Rai Benjamin is widely regarded as one of the leading 400m hurdlers, praised for an uncommon blend of sprint speed and technical precision that places him among the event’s elite. Commentators and technical profiles routinely single out his smooth hurdle clearance and sustained between-bar speed. He turned professional in 2018 and signed with Nike. There are high-profile rivalries, like the one with Karsten Warholm, that have further boosted Benjamin’s reputation. But amidst all the on-track discussions, the fans are often curious about Benjamin’s roots and history.
So, let’s find out all about Rai Benjamin.
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Where Is Rai Benjamin From, and What Is His Nationality?
Benjamin was born on July 27, 1997, in Mount Vernon, New York, USA. He holds American nationality and represents Team USA in international competitions, including the Olympics and World Championships. However, when he was 3, Benjamin moved with his mother to Antigua where he stayed until he was 9. He moved back and forth between Antigua and New York throughout middle school before permanently settling in New York.
In fact, back in 2016, Benjamin wanted to switch allegiances, but things didn’t work out in his favor. He refused the offers to run for Antigua and Barbuda in the 2016 Olympics and applied to the IAAF to run for the USA. Unfortunately, the IAAF refused to recognize him as an American athlete. Later in 2017, the IAAF put a temporary freeze on athletes who wanted to switch allegiances. And that took a heavy toll on Benjamin.
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Weighing in on that, he said, “It kind of was held up for so long. It was kind of like that I’ve always had the right documents. I was born in the Bronx. But (it was) just because I represented Antigua, where my parents are from. Usually, the rule said sit out a year (before switching to another country). But countries were buying athletes, so there was a ban on transferring allegiances. They wanted to make sure it was legitimate.”
But now, things are a lot different, and he runs for the American flag. But why was he initially running for a different nation? The answer lies in his ethnicity.
What Is Rai Benjamin’s Ethnicity?
Benjamin’s father, Winston Benjamin, is a former West Indies cricketer from Antigua and Barbuda. His mother, Jeanette Mason, is also an immigrant from Antigua. And hence, the 28-year-old proudly represents the African-Caribbean diaspora within American track and field.
What Religion Does Rai Benjamin Follow?
Rai Benjamin’s religious beliefs have not been publicly disclosed, and he has not spoken about his faith in interviews or on social media. But if we have to make an educated guess, we can put Benjamin as a Christian. Why? Because the majority of Antiguans and Barbudans belong to Anglicanism, or Christianity influenced by British colonization.
Which High School Did Rai Benjamin Attend?
Benjamin attended Mount Vernon High School in New York. That’s where he first showcased his sprinting and hurdling talent, setting the stage for his elite track career. His mother once said, “I don’t want to sound too haughty, but the first day of (athletic) registration at Mount Vernon High School, I said he was going to play sports in college.”
But he wasn’t always a track specialist. During his time at Mount Vernon, he was pretty leaned towards football. But his coaches saw a different kind of potential in him. Of course, Benjamin was a fast runner. But he lacked the build needed to become a football player. And by running 400m in mere 51 seconds, he impressed his junior varsity football and head track coach. Later, he took up track as his forte and continued with it into college.
Which College Did Rai Benjamin Go To?
Benjamin began his collegiate career at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) before transferring to the University of Southern California (USC). At USC, he won NCAA titles and broke a few collegiate records, cementing his status as one of the top hurdlers in the world. Representing UCLA Bruins, he secured the silver medal in 400m hurdles in 2017.
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And in 2018, as a representative of USC Trojans, he got the bronze in NCAA Division I Indoor Championships, and a gold in the 4x400m relay. Later on, he got the gold in both 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay at the NCAA Division I Championships. But his professional run has been a even more exceptional.
He won gold at the USATF Championships in 2019 with a time of 47.23. At the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, he ran 46.83, setting a meet record and the third-fastest time ever. He continued his winning streak by taking gold at the USATF Championships in 2022 (47.04) and 2023 (46.62). In 2024, he once again triumphed at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a world-leading meet record of 46.46, and followed it up with another USATF Championships victory in 2025, clocking 46.89.