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Athlete Bio

Evelyn Ashford

Basic Information

Status: Hall of Fame Gender: Female Date of Birth: 4/15/1957

Athletics Information

Event: Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field Agent: N/A

Residences

Hometown: Roseville, CA High School: Roseville High School College: University of California, Los Angeles

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Athlete Profile

One of the greatest women's sprinters in track and field history, Evelyn Ashford ranked first in the world four times and was the top-ranked American seven times, including four in a row from 1981 to 1984. A competitor at the 1976 Olympic Games while attending UCLA, she also competed in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games, winning four gold medals and a silver. She set an Olympic record when she ran 10.97 to win the 100m at the 1984 Games She was a two-time world record holder in the 100 meters, running 10.79 at Colorado Springs in 1983 and surpassing that record when she ran 10.76 in Zurich in 1984. Among her greatest achievements was her double victory at the 1979 World Cup when she defeated East Germany's dominant sprinters, beating Marlies Gohr in the 100m and world-record holder Marita Koch in the 200m. She repeated her double sprint victories in the 1981 World Cup. Overall, she was on 15 national teams during the period from 1976 to 1992, a very long career for a sprinter. She won 19 national titles, including six indoors.

Records Held

World Record: 100 m - 10.79
World Record: 100 m - 10.76 (August 22, 1984 - )
Olympic Record: 100 m - 10.97

Championships

1976 Olympics: 100 m (5th)
1984 Olympics: 100 m - 10.97 (1st)
1984 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1988 Olympics: 100 m (2nd)
1988 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1992 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1979 World Cup: 100 m (1st)
1979 World Cup: 200 m (1st)
1981 World Cup: 100 m (1st)
1981 World Cup: 200 m (1st)

Occupations

Business

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