FACTBOX - Gold medallist LaShawn Merritt

(Reuters) - Factbox on LaShawn Merritt (U.S.) who won the Olympic gold medal in the men's 400 metres on Thursday.

Age: 22 (date of birth: June 27, 1986)

Place of birth: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Career achievements:

Gold medallist, 2007 World Championships, 4x400m relay

Gold medallist, 2005 World Championships, 4x400m relay

Silver medallist, 2007 World Championships, 400m

Merritt beat Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner to win gold, having also beating him in the U.S. trials.

Before every race he kisses his right index and middle fingers and points them to the sky in honour of his older brother who died in an accident as a 19-year-old. Antwan Merritt fell to his death from the window of his eighth floor dormitory room following a fight with a group of fellow students.

(Compiled by Nigel Hunt; Editing by Padraic Halpin)