| Evelyn Ashford |
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As a 19-year-old, Ashford finished 5th in the 100 m event at the 1976 Summer Olympics . After beating the World Record holders in the 100 m and 200 m in 1979 , Ashford was one of the potential gold medalists for the 1980 Summer Olympics , but these Games were boycotted by the United States. In 1983 , she first set the World Record in the 100 meters at 10.79 seconds and wanted to win the 100 meter title at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki . In the final, however, she pulled a hamstring muscle and fell. At the 1984 Summer Olympics , Ashford finally had a chance to win a gold medal, especially since the East Germans boycotted the Olympics. But Ashford became injured shortly before the Games and had to withdraw from the 200 m heats. She did compete in the 100 m, and with success, winning the event in a new Olympic Record. As the final runner for the relay team, she won a second gold medal. Later in the season, she defeated the East German women while setting a World Record. At the 1988 Summer Olympics , she was beaten in the 100 m by Florence Griffith Joyner , who had broken her World Record earlier at the Olympic Trials. In the 4 x 100 m, she again ran the final leg, winning her third Olympic gold medal in spite of a sloppy exchange. At her last Olympics, in 1992 , Ashford was eliminated in the 100 m semi-finals, but won her third straight Olympic 4 x 100 m relay title. In 1997 , Ashford was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. SEE ALSO |
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