Michael Bates

Michael Bates was a bronze medalist in the 200 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and also won two gold medals, in the 100 and 4x100 relay, at the 1991 Universiade. He is best known as a football player in the United States. In 1989 and 1990 he won the Pac-10 Championships in both the 100 and 200 metres.

Bates played college football at the University of Arizona. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks and played with them through 1995. From 1996-2000 he was with the Carolina Panthers, making All-Pro every year and being named to the Pro Bowl for five consecutive years. He was primarily known as a kick returner and was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1990s as a kick returner. He was of only five NFL players to lead the league in kick return average for two seasons. Bates played in the NFL through 2003, finishing his career with stops with Washington Redskins, back with the Panthers from 2003-03, and finally with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. His brother, Mario, played seven seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions.

Personal Best: 200 – 20.01 (1992).