2001 BYU Hall of Fame
Entering the 1991 season, sprinter Frank Fredericks had earned 11 All-America citations and was the BYU record holder in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. After that season Fredericks was a BYU legend; he won three NCAA titles his senior year: the indoor 200-meters and outdoor 100-meter and 200-meter events.
After competing for BYU, Frank began one of the most successful and distinguished international careers ever by a BYU alumnus. At the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, he finished second behind American Michael Johnson in the 200 meters. In 1992 Frank traveled to Barcelona, Spain, and represented his home country of Namibia at the Olympic Games. He sprinted his way into the finals of both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and left Barcelona with two silver medals, becoming the first Namibian athlete ever to win an Olympic medal.
One year later Frank won his first world title, winning the 200 meters at the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Just prior to the Olympics, in February 1996, Frank broke the world indoor 100-meter record at a meet in Tampere, Finland. Six days later, at a meet in Lievin, France, he broke the world indoor record for the 200 meters. He continues to be the world record holder in both events.
Fredericks represented Namibia at the 1996 Olympics, again earning two more silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter races; in the 200 meter final in Sydney, Frank ran the second-fastest time in history.
Along with the international accolades, Frank has been recognized by Africa and Namibia for his athletic accomplishments. Named Namibia's Sportsman of the Year 11 times since 1986, he is also the current African record holder in the 100 meters and the 200 meters.
Equally impressive to his athletic accomplishments is what Frank has done away from the track. He earned a bachelor's degree at BYU in computer science in 1991 and completed an MBA with an emphasis in finance and marketing from the Marriott School of Management in 1994.
Frank spent much of his time helping Namibian youth develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. He was the patron of the Katatura Youth Enterprise Center (KAYEC), an organization that teaches entrepreneurial skills to young men and women. He has also established the Frank Fredericks Foundation to help provide scholarships to develop young athletes in Namibia.