Hall of Fame

Edwin Moses

Track and Field

Olympian in Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Born:
August 31, 1955
Birthplace:
Dayton, Ohio
College:
Morehouse College

hall of fame

Edwin Moses

Track and Field

Olympian in Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games

Born:
August 31, 1955
Birthplace:
Dayton, Ohio
College:
Morehouse College
Edwin Moses was the most dominant athlete ever in the 400-meter hurdles, winning 122 consecutive races — including 107 consecutive finals! — and two Olympic gold medals over a nearly 10-year span.
SHARE

Edwin Moses was the most dominant athlete ever in his event, winning 122 consecutive races – including 107 consecutive finals! – and two Olympic gold medals over a nearly 10-year span in the 400-meter hurdles.

But one of the United States’ all-time track stars did not always seem bound for greatness. As a high schooler, he tried football and basketball before settling on track. “I found that I enjoyed individual sports much more,” Moses said in an interview. “Everything is cut and dry; nothing is arbitrary. It’s just a matter of getting to the finish line first.”

He received an academic to college, choosing to attend Morehouse College – which did field a track team but did not have its own track – and majored in physics. And he arrived on the world stage without much buildup – the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games were his first international meet. But Moses sure made a splash, setting a world record of 47.63 to claim his first gold medal. It was the only gold medal won by an American man in track and field in Montreal.

“In 1974 or 1975, if someone had told me I was going to be an Olympic champion, I would not have believed it,” Moses said years later. “Even in 1976, I’d not have believed it.”

The American boycott of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games prevented Moses from defending his gold medal, but he was back atop the medal podium at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, where he also was selected to say the Olympic Oath.

Moses’ winning streak came to an end in 1987. At the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Moses took bronze in the 400-meter hurdles, even though his time was faster than his gold medal runs in 1976 and 1984.

Moses earned a graduate degree from Pepperdine University and later became a leading sports activist. He was chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy and was outspoken in the effort to purge performance-enhancing drugs from track and field.



MEDAL RESULTS
1976 Montreal 400m Hurdles Gold
1984 Los Angeles 400m Hurdles Gold
1988 Seoul 400m Hurdles Bronze

TICKETS NOW

ON SALE

DISCOUNTS FOR MILITARY, FIRST RESPONDERS, SENIORS, GROUPS AND MORE!​
RELATED GALLERY
connect with us
NEXT UP
One of the best swimmers who has ever competed for Team USA, Natalie Coughlin won 12 medals over the course of three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012).
David Kiley competed at five Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball, track and field, and alpine skiing. He won a total of 13 Paralympic medals.
Michelle Kwan sits as the most decorated figure skater – male or female – in the United States, having won 43 championships.
Swimmer Trischa Zorn-Hudson is the most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, having won 55 medals, including 41 gold medals, over seven Paralympics.
Skip to content