Hall of Fame
Lawrence is FIU's most-decorated Olympian in school history and enjoyed an illustrious collegiate and professional career as a world-renowned sprinter. While at FIU, the Jamaican and North Miami Beach native re-wrote the record books, graduating as the school-record holder in 10 different events.
Following her time as a Panther, Lawrence burst onto the international scene as one of the top sprinters in the world, representing Jamaica in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. At the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, she took the silver medal in the 100m and was a part of the silver-medal winning 4x100m meter relay team. In 2004, Lawrence's Jamaican 4x100 meter relay team claimed gold in Athens, making history as FIU's first-ever Olympic gold medalist.
Lawrence also claimed three medals on the world track circuit at the World Continental Cups, garnering silvers in the 4x100m meter relay in 1998 and in the 100m in 2002. As part of Team Jamaica, she also anchored the 2002 gold-medal-winning 4x100m relay team.
More than 25 years later, Lawrence still holds the FIU indoor records in the 60m, 200m and as part of the 4x400 relay team (list time). She also has the outdoor records in the 100m and was a member of the record-holding 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams.
"Being inducted into the FIU Athletics Hall of Fame is an honor that reflects not only my journey, but the incredible mentors, teammates and supporters who believed in me every step of the way. FIU helped shaped the athlete – and the woman – I became, and I carry this recognition with deep gratitude and pride. This moment belongs to everyone who lifted me up and reminded me that no dream is ever too big."
