Michael Tinsley (1984–)

Michael Tinsley, born in Little Rock (Pulaski County), became a star track and field athlete, winning the silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles in both the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 World Championships.

Michael DeLorean Tinsley was born on April 21, 1984, in Little Rock, one of three children of Billie Tinsley; his family lived in the Pankey Addition. After taking up track in the eighth grade, he competed in the 200 and 400 meters and the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. In 2002, his senior year at Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, Tinsley recorded best times of 14.10 seconds and 37.30 seconds, respectively, in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

Tinsley, who graduated from high school in 2002, earned an athletic scholarship to Jackson State University (JSU), a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2004, he won the first of three consecutive Southwestern Conference (SWAC) Outdoor Championship titles in the 400-meter hurdles; finished third in the hurdles in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Mideast Regional Championships; and placed third in the qualifying heats of the NCAA National Outdoor Championships.

In 2005, Tinsley emerged as a nationally ranked 400-meter hurdler. That year, Tinsley won the first of two consecutive 400-meter hurdle titles in the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships and finished third in the NCAA National Outdoor Championships. Despite finishing ninth in the 400-meter hurdles in the USA Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships, Tinsley earned a seventh-place national ranking in the event from Track & Field News. In 2006, he won the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, becoming the first JSU athlete in any sport to claim an NCAA title. JSU proclaimed June 15, 2006, “Michael Tinsley Day” and held a public reception for him and his family. In 2006, Track & Field News ranked Tinsley fourth in the nation and tenth in the world in the 400-meter hurdles.

After graduating from JSU in 2006, Tinsley became a professional track and field athlete. His best years as a professional were from 2012 to 2014, when he earned three consecutive number-one national rankings and global rankings of fourth in 2012 and second in both 2013 and 2014 from Track & Field News. In 2012, Tinsley captured his first national title at the USATF Outdoor Championships, which also served as the U.S. Olympic Trials. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, he finished second in the 400-meter hurdles, recording a personal best time of 47.91 seconds to claim the silver medal behind Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who won the Olympic title in 47.63 seconds. In 2013, Tinsley defended his national title at the USATF Outdoor Championships and qualified for the World Track and Field Championships. At the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, he finished second in the hurdles to Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago. One-tenth of a second separated the two, as Gordon clocked 47.69 seconds and Tinsley 47.70 seconds (which would stand as Tinsley’s career best time). In 2014, he won the overall title in the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Diamond League professional track and field circuit.

After 2014, Tinsley remained a nationally and internationally ranked hurdler but not with the same success as in previous years. Despite an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in the World Track and Field Championships in Beijing, China, in 2015, he ranked third in the nation and sixth globally. In 2016, Tinsley qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team by finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the USATF Outdoor Championships/Olympic Trials. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he finished sixth in his qualifying heat and failed to advance to the semifinals. Nonetheless, Track & Field News ranked Tinsley second in the nation and fifth internationally in the 400-meter hurdles. In his final year of competition, 2017, he finished third in the qualifying heats of the 400-meter hurdles at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

Tinsley, a motivational speaker and coach, resides in Round Rock, Texas, and is the father of two sons, MyKayle and Titus.

For additional information:
Hendershott, Jon. “T&FN Interview: Michael Tinsley.” Track & Field News, July 2015, pp. 18–20. Online at https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/tinsley.pdf (accessed June 6, 2024).

Michael Tinsley. https://mrmichaeltinsley.com/ (accessed June 6, 2024).

“Profile: Michael Tinsley.” Olympedia. https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/126801 (accessed June 6, 2024).

“Profile: Micheal Tinsley.” World Athletics. https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/michael-tinsley-14253267 (accessed June 6, 2024).

“Team USA Profile: Michael Tinsley.” United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/michael-tinsley-907837 (accessed June 6, 2024).

Adam R. Hornbuckle
Spring Hill, Tennessee