Sporting icons : Evelyn Ashford – Sprinting Icon of the 20th Century - Career HLs , video

 


Evelyn Ashford, born on April 15, 1957, in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, is one of the most celebrated American sprinters in history. Known for her fluid stride, fierce competitiveness, and remarkable acceleration, Ashford dominated women's sprinting through the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.

Style of Play:
Ashford's style was defined by her smooth and efficient stride, powerful starts, and top-end speed. Her ability to maintain form under pressure made her a consistent performer at the highest level. She excelled in the 100 metres, and was a key component in the United States' 4×100 metre relay successes.

Career Highlights in Detail:

  • 1976 Montreal Olympics: At just 19, she made the 100m final and finished 5th, marking her arrival on the global stage.
  • 1980: Entered her prime years, but missed the Moscow Olympics due to the U.S. boycott.
  • 1983 World Championships: Won silver in the 100m, narrowly losing to East Germany’s Marlies Göhr, but her time of 10.91 reaffirmed her elite status.
  • 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: Her most iconic moment, winning gold in the 100m and gold in the 4×100m relay — the latter anchoring the team to victory over strong competition.
  • 1988 Seoul Olympics: Secured another relay gold, again as part of the formidable U.S. team.
  • 1992 Barcelona Olympics: At 35, she helped her team win silver in the 4×100m relay, making her one of the oldest female sprinters to medal at the Olympics.
  • She defeated numerous Eastern Bloc athletes during a politically charged era of sports, often as the lone American sprinter to do so.


Olympic Medals:

  • Gold – 100m (1984)
  • Gold – 4×100m Relay (1984, 1988)
  • Silver – 4×100m Relay (1992)

World Championships Medals:

  • Silver – 100m (1983, Helsinki)

World Records:

  • Set a world record in the 100 metres (10.76 seconds) in 1984, a mark that stood as the fastest legal time for years.
  • Contributed to record-breaking 4×100m relay performances by the U.S. women's team during the mid-1980s.

Legacy:
Evelyn Ashford is widely recognized as one of the greatest female sprinters of all time. She broke gender and racial barriers in track and field, competed at an elite level for over 16 years, and helped redefine longevity and excellence in sprinting.
Her battles against state-supported athletes during the Cold War era highlighted her resilience and talent. Ashford's dedication to clean competition, her elegant yet powerful running style, and her humility off the track continue to inspire athletes around the world. She was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, ensuring her legacy as a true American athletics legend.


Watch Ashford's  World Record 10.76 second in 100 meters in 1984 

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