Jahvid Best

Best ran in the 100 meters at the 2016 Olympics in Heat 7 of the first round, losing to eventual (three time) gold medalist Usain Bolt, former silver medalist Richard Thompson, European champion James Dasaolu and world youth record holder Yoshihide Kiryū.

In May 2015, Best ran a 10.262 wind aided 100 meters in preparation for the 2016 USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Best was training for the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he represented Saint Lucia, his father's home country. On April 2, 2016, he ran the official qualifying time for the Olympics 10.16 +1.9 at a meet at the University of California, San Diego. On July 16, 2016, Best was named to Saint Lucia's 2016 Olympics Track and Field team, where he competed in the 100 meters. He was the first former NFL player to participate in the Summer Olympic Games.

At the 2016 Olympics, Best ran a 10.39 in his heat of the 100 meters and did not advance to the semifinals.

Best joined the Cal Bears coaching staff in January 2014.

In January 2014, Best sued the NFL and helmet maker Riddell, claiming the league "was aware of the evidence and the risks associated with repetitive traumatic brain injuries ... but deliberately ignored and actively concealed the information.". The lawsuit was dismissed in June 2014 without prejudice due to Best's failure to serve the lawsuit.

On July 17, 2013, Best was released by the Lions. The numerous concussions he suffered throughout his career prevented him from returning to the field during the 2012 season.

On November 3, 2012, Best was placed on injured reserve due to continuing post-concussion issues, ending his season without playing in any pre- or regular season games.

In late November 2012 Best had been undergoing 'cognitive therapy' to treat his 'post-concussive symptoms', hoping to return to the field for the 2013 season.

Best was injured during the second quarter of Cal's November 7 matchup against Oregon State. In the process of scoring a rushing touchdown, he hurdled a defender into the end zone and was pushed by a second Oregon State defender in mid-air, causing him to land on the back of his head with his helmet coming off. The play resulted in a concussion for Best. After a 13-minute game delay, Best was taken off the field on a stretcher to the Highland General Hospital in Oakland. This was his second concussion in two weeks, following a mild concussion received the previous week against Arizona State. He was released the next day. and did not play the following week's game against Arizona, although he appeared as an honorary team captain. Best missed the rest of the regular season. On December 16, head coach Jeff Tedford announced that Best would not play in the 2009 Poinsettia Bowl, stating that "'to get him back in game-ready form I don't feel like that's something that we can get done to have him ready to play.'" Best announced on January 2, 2010 that he was foregoing his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Best tied for the sixth fastest overall 40 yard dash time and was the fastest among running backs. He was selected in a pick trade from the Minnesota Vikings by the Detroit Lions 30th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Regarding the pick, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said, "Some people watch adult videos on their computer... I go to YouTube and watch Jahvid Best highlight clips. That’s what gets me aroused."

On January 15, 2009 Best underwent surgery to tighten a ligament that had been injured when he dislocated his left elbow against Colorado State on September 27, 2008. This was followed up by foot surgery on January 23 to relieve irritation that was caused when Best bruised his foot halfway through the 2008 season. He missed spring football practice as a result. Best was named as the most explosive player in college football by Rivals.com in February 2009. In early June Best was able to participate in team summer workouts without pain. Entering his junior year, Best's breakout sophomore year caused early speculation of him being a future Heisman candidate and top running back prospect.

After two more impressive outings against UCLA and Oregon, where he averaged over six yards per carry, Best was held to only 30 yards against the USC Trojans. Following a 201-yard rushing game against the Stanford Cardinal in the 2008 Big Game on 19 carries, Best became the seventh consecutive 1,000 rusher for Cal since Jeff Tedford became head coach in 2002. During the last game of the regular season versus Washington on December 6, Best became the first Cal player to rush for over 300 yards in a game and ended the regular season as the Pac-10's leading rusher, beating out Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers.

A 186-yard, two touchdown performance in the 2008 Emerald Bowl earned him Offensive MVP honors for the game. Best finished the 2008 season with 1,580 rushing yards, an 8.1-yard per carry average, and 15 touchdowns.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Best was listed as the No. 9 running back in the nation in 2007.

As a true freshman in 2007, Best was the primary backup to Justin Forsett. On only 29 carries, Best had 221 rushing yards, and 2 touchdowns. Best also caught 13 passes for 174 yards and a receiving touchdown. Best was selected as the team's Most Valuable Freshman as well as the team's J. Scott Duncan Award (Most Valuable Special Teams Player).

Best ran track as well, participating in the Arcadia Invitational in his junior and senior years. As a junior, he won the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.36 seconds with an injured foot. At the 2006 CIF California State Meet, he finished third in the 200 metres behind Bryshon Nellum and Devin Mays. As a senior, he won the Arcadia Invitational 200 meter dash with a time of 21.40 seconds. Also during his senior year, Best won the CIF California State Meet 100 meters with a discounted wind assisted (2.4 m/s) time of 10.31, ahead of Charles Saseun and Randall Carroll. In the 200 metres, Best was runner-up (20.65) to Nellum (20.43), both far ahead of the competition. Best finished his senior season with personal bests of 10.31 and 20.65, the 5th and 2nd fastest times in the nation respectively.

Best received scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, California, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, and Washington among others, before ultimately committing to California in 2006.

Best attended Salesian High School in Richmond, California, where he played for the Salesian Chieftains high school football team. In his junior year in 2005 he had 1,495 rushing yards on 138 attempts with 20 touchdowns as Salesian won the North Coast Section championship to conclude a 12–1 season. In his senior year, Best ran for 3,325 yards and 48 touchdowns, both Bay Area single-season records. Salesian once again made it to the NCS finals, but lost in the final game to St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School of Vallejo.

Jahvid Andre Best (born January 30, 1989) is an Olympic track and field athlete and a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at California, setting several school records, including most all-purpose yards in a single season and most rushing yards in a single game. Best also led the Pac-10 in total rushing yards in 2008. Best competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, representing Saint Lucia in track and field.