Monique Henderson

Who is Monique Henderson?

Monique Henderson is a track and field athlete, competing internationally for the United States. Henderson was a gold medalist in both the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China as a member of the U.S 4x400 m relay squad.

Henderson prepped at Morse High School in San Diego '01. She is the only 4-time 400 meters California State Champion in the state's history from 98–01. At age 17, she set a US junior class, as well as high school national record, at 50.74 in the 400 m at the CIF California State Meet. In 2000, she became the first high school athlete to make the US Olympic track & field team since 1976. She was a member of the 4x400 m squad but did not run. That year she was named the national Girl's "High School Athlete of the Year" by Track and Field News.

After graduating from high school in 2001 she accepted a scholarship to attend UCLA. While at UCLA she went on to be a 5-time Pac-10 champion. In 2004 she placed 2nd at the NCAA championships at 400 m. The next year she became the 2005 NCAA outdoor champion at 400 m, establishing a new NCAA record.

Since 2010 the U.S Gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004 has been in doubt when Crystal Cox, who ran for the team in a preliminary round, admitted to using doping., however as of 2012 the original result still stands.