10.49 controversial record still stands, 25 years later. Florence Griffith-Joyner, affectionately known as Flo Jo, broke the world record in the women's 100-meter dash by so much, the broadcasters (see video below) thought for sure that she had run a wind assisted race. Earlier in the day she ran a 10.6, which was faster than the existing world record of 10.76 (Evelyn Ashford, … [Read more...] about Flo Jo Sets 100-Meter Record July 16, 1988
olympics
Carter Announces Olympic Boycott Threat January 20, 1980
Coca Cola Commercial Promotes the 1980 Olympics (The One We Boycotted) Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Spawns Olympic Boycott Talk. Russians start invasion Christmas Day, 1979 The Soviet Union began its invasion of Afghanistan on Christmas Day, 1979. On New Years Day, 1980, with already more than 10,000 Russian troops engaged in heavy fighting near Kabul (eventually the … [Read more...] about Carter Announces Olympic Boycott Threat January 20, 1980
Nancy Kerrigan Attack Orchestrated by Tonya Harding January 6, 1994
World Watches Nancy Kerrigan Attack in Disbelief http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T09XWRkq5M On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan had just completed a practice session in Cobo Hall in Detroit. She was preparing for the U.S. Women’s National Figure Skating Championship which was going to be held there, the following day. As she was leaving the ice, an unidentified man struck … [Read more...] about Nancy Kerrigan Attack Orchestrated by Tonya Harding January 6, 1994
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Wins 2nd Gold – September 29, 1988
Jackie Joyner-Kersee won a gold medal in the long jump at the Seoul Olympics on Septemeber 29, 1988. About an hour later, her sister-in-law, Florence Griffith Joyner (Better known as Flo Jo) broke a world record in a semi final heat of the 200 meters. For Joyner-Kersee, the win in the long jump was her second gold medal. She had won (and set a world record) the heptathlon … [Read more...] about Jackie Joyner-Kersee Wins 2nd Gold – September 29, 1988
Dave Wottle (The Hat) wins Olympic 800 – September 2, 1972
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fef59qD8gow Dave Wottle always wore an old golf cap when he trained and competed, and this made him immediately recognisable in the opening rounds of the 800m at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich (see photo above). In the final, Wottle immediately dropped to the rear of the field, and stayed there for the first 600m, at which point he started … [Read more...] about Dave Wottle (The Hat) wins Olympic 800 – September 2, 1972