Women's History Wednesday Profile: Evelyn Ashford
Ashford (Center) celebrates after winning 100m event at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Evelyn Ashford was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and it wasn't until her teenage years when she realized she wanted to be an Olympic sprinter, like her idol Wilma Rudolph. In high school, Ashford ran for the Roseville H.S boys track team and earned a scholarship to compete for the University of California, Los Angeles.
Following her freshman year, an 18 year old, Ashford made her Olympic debut in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Although she finished fifth in the 100m event, the pain of defeat propelled the young star to work and train harder. Under the guidance of Pat Connolly at UCLA, Ashford emerged as one of the world's greatest sprinters.
In 1977, Evelyn won both the collegiate and national titles in the 100m and the 200m events. The performance earned the Louisiana native a No.1 ranking by Track & Field News for 1977 and made her a favorite ahead of the 1979 World Cup and 1980 Summer Olympics. After defeating the World Record holders in the 100m and 200m at the 1979 World Cup of Track and Field, Ashford set her eyes on the 1980 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer games in Moscow and Ashford had to put her Olympic dreams on hold.
It became a bit of a blessing in disguise, Evelyn injured her quad muscle in May of 1980 and was forced to miss the rest of the season. The rehabilitation process allowed Ashford to heal properly and with the 1981 World Cup in sight, she began training for the event.
She would again win the 100m and 200m at the World Cup in dominating fashion. In 1983, at the World Cup, Ashford set the World Record in the 100m with a stunning 10.79. The win put a target on her back at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but Ashford was ready.
Her performance did not disappoint winning her long awaited Gold medal in the 100m with a Olympic record sprint time of 10.97. As part of the relay team, Ashford added a second Gold to her collection winning the 400m relay. Later that year, Evelyn had the race of her life at a event in Zurich, Switzerland. Trailing her rival, Marlies Gohr of East Germany, Ashford made up a half a meter or so to come back and win the race with a new record of 10.76.
In 1988, Ashford was named the flag bearer for the United States team at the Opening Ceremony. Although mainly self coached, Evelyn returned to her Olympic form during the Summer games in South Korea. In the 100m, Ashford was edged out by Florence Griffith-Joyner, a new American sensation on the track. The two paired up in the 400m relay where the U.S won gold and again Ashford had to make up ground on rival Gohr to win the event. It was Ashford's third gold medal and fourth overall.
In her final Olympic games, the 35 year old Ashford went out with a bang. Although she was beat out in the semifinals of the 100m by 1/100th of a second, Ashford helped guide USA to their third straight 400m relay gold. She is still one of six women to have won four gold medals in a track and field event.
Ashford has been honored numerous times over the years for her many contributions to her sport. She was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and joined U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005.
