Evelyn Ashford facts for kids
Ashford in 1984
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| Born | April 15, 1957 (age 68) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height | 165 cm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 53 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 60–400 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 60 yd: 6.54 WR (1982) 100 m: 10.76 (1984) 200 m: 21.83 (1979) 400 m: 51.57 (1979) |
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Medal record
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Evelyn Ashford, born on April 15, 1957, is a famous American athlete. She was a fantastic runner in track and field events. Evelyn won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1984 for the 100-meter dash. She also held a world record in the 60-yard dash. Evelyn was amazing because she ran the 100-meter race in under 11 seconds more than 30 times! She was even the first woman to do this at the Olympics. Her 60-yard dash record is still the longest-standing athletics record.
Contents
Evelyn Ashford's Early Career
As a young athlete, Evelyn showed great promise. At just 19 years old, she competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. She finished fifth in the 100-meter race.
Rising to the Top
In 1979, Evelyn beat the world record holders in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. This happened at the World Cup of Track and Field in Montreal. She was expected to win medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. However, the United States decided not to send its athletes to those Games. This was called a boycott.
Facing Challenges
In 1980, Evelyn also had a tough year. She injured a muscle in her leg, which kept her from competing for the rest of the season. Despite this, she kept working hard.
Awards and Recognition
Evelyn Ashford received many honors for her athletic skills.
Top Collegiate Athlete
In 1977, she won the first-ever Broderick Award. This award, now called the Honda Sports Award, recognized her as the best female college track and field athlete in the country.
World Rankings and Athlete of the Year
Track & Field News magazine ranked Evelyn as the world's number one in the 100 meters in 1979 and 1981. She was also ranked number one in the 200 meters in 1981. The magazine named her "Athlete of the Year" twice, in 1981 and 1984.
Olympic Success and World Records
Evelyn Ashford is known for her incredible performances at the Olympics and for setting world records.
Setting a World Record
On July 3, 1983, Evelyn set her first world record for the 100 meters. She ran it in an amazing 10.79 seconds in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was a favorite to win at the first World Championships in Helsinki. Sadly, she pulled a muscle during the final race and fell.
Gold Medals in Los Angeles
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Evelyn had another chance for gold. She had a small injury and decided not to compete in the 200-meter race. But she shined in the 100-meter event. She won the gold medal and set a new Olympic record of 10.97 seconds.
Evelyn also won a second gold medal as the anchor runner for the 4 × 100-meter relay team. The U.S. team ran one of the fastest times ever. They won by a huge margin, showing their incredible teamwork.
Breaking Her Own Record
Later in 1984, Evelyn competed in a meeting in Zürich, Switzerland. She raced against her main rival, Marlies Göhr. Evelyn not only won but also broke her own world record! She ran the 100 meters in 10.76 seconds. This race was her personal best time.
More Olympic Glory
At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Evelyn was chosen to carry the United States flag. This is a great honor. She won a silver medal in the 100-meter race. She then earned her third Olympic gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay. She ran the final part of the race, helping her team win.
Final Olympic Appearance
Evelyn competed in her last Olympics in Barcelona when she was 35 years old. She just missed out on the 100-meter final by a tiny fraction of a second. However, she went on to win her fourth Olympic gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay. This time, she ran the first part of the race. Evelyn is one of only six women to win four track and field Olympic gold medals.
Overcoming Injuries
Evelyn Ashford was known for her amazing ability to bounce back from injuries. Three times, she suffered serious injuries that ended her season. But each time, she returned to the top of her sport the very next year.
For example, after her quad injury in 1980, she came back in 1981. She won both sprint events at the World Cup and was ranked number one in the world. After an injury in 1983, she became a double Olympic champion in 1984. In 1987, a hamstring injury kept her from competing. Yet, in 1988, she added an Olympic silver and another gold medal to her collection.
Life After Competition
On May 30, 1985, Evelyn became a mother to her daughter, Raina Ashley Washington. She still had an excellent year in 1986. She lost only once in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. She also won the 100-meter title at the Goodwill Games.
Evelyn mostly coached herself after 1985.
Legacy and Education
Evelyn Ashford's achievements are celebrated in the world of athletics.
Hall of Fame
In 1997, Evelyn Ashford was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. She is recognized as one of the greatest track and field runners ever.
College Life
Evelyn attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Roseville High School. She was also inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
See also
In Spanish: Evelyn Ashford para niños
