DES MOINES, Iowa – Olympic gold medalist Derek Drouin will be inducted into the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame during an April 25 luncheon at the Schickler Club in the Knapp Center on the Drake University campus. This Hall of Fame induction will happen in conjunction with the 2024 Drake Relays Presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom.

"Derek Drouin was the first Olympic champion to return to the Drake Relays during my tenure," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said, "So this induction is equally important to me as it is the history of our event. Derek was a star among stars when competing at the Relays, and his connection to Des Moines and Drake Stadium is virtually unsurpassed."

After earning a silver medal in the high jump at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Drouin came back to capture the gold medal at the 2016 games. Drouin was the 2015 World Champion and won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Pan American Games. He also earned a bronze medal in the 2013 World Championships.

Drouin also captured five Drake Relays titles. He won the university-college high jump title at the 2009 Drake Relays competing for Indiana and is the only four-time Drake Relays champ in the invitational high jump, winning crowns in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

His 2014 Drake Relays battle with Erik Kynard and Dusty Jonas was one of the greatest high jump competitions ever. Kynard and Jonas both cleared 7-8 1/2 before going out. Drouin eventually won the event, setting both the Drake Relays and Drake Stadium records at 7 feet 10 1/2 inches. That mark also set a Canadian record and ranks sixth on the all-time world outdoor list. 

During his distinguished collegiate career at Indiana, Drouin became the first athlete to win five NCAA high jump championships (2010 and 2013 outdoor; 2010, 2011 and 2013 indoor). After sweeping the men's high jump at the 2013 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Drouin was named recipient of the Bowerman Award in 2013 presented annually to the nation's top all-around collegiate track and field performer.

Drouin captured seven Big Ten Conference titles (four outdoor, three indoor). He finished second in his other indoor meet. He also is the Big Ten indoor and outdoor meet record holder in the high jump and the only four-time outdoor high jump champion in Big Ten history.

Drouin's induction makes him the 224th member of the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame. The Athletes Hall of Fame was established in 1959 during the Golden Anniversary of the Drake Relays with 72 charter members, including Jesse Owens who was named the outstanding performer during the first half-century of the Drake Relays.