Hall of Fame

Evelyn Ashford

Track and Field

Olympian in Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

Born:
April 15, 1957
Birthplace:
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hometown:
Roseville, California
College:
UCLA

hall of fame

Evelyn Ashford

Track and Field

Olympian in Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

Born:
April 15, 1957
Birthplace:
Shreveport, Louisiana
Hometown:
Roseville, California
College:
UCLA
Evelyn Ashford won four gold medals and one silver medal while competing in four Olympic Games and at age 35 became the oldest woman to win gold in track and field.
SHARE

Evelyn Ashford quietly forged one of the world’s best careers in track and field – if one can quietly win four gold medals and one silver medal while competing in four Olympiads.

In a sport where it is challenging to maintain results over a lengthy career, Ashford made her Olympic debut as a 19-year-old college freshman at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.

Ashford went to compete in three more Games – and at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, she became the oldest woman ever to win a gold medal in track and field.

Born into a military family, Ashford finally settled in Sacramento, California, where her track career began to take hold. She learned of Wilma Rudolph’s success as a sprinter and set goals to be like Rudolph, becoming a standout at Roseville High School and earning an athletic scholarship to UCLA.

As a 19-year-old, Ashford qualified for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, where she finished fifth in the 100-meter dash.

While Ashford moved to the top of the world rankings soon after, because of the U.S. boycott of the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, she had to wait until the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games to climb atop the Olympic Podium. There, Ashford won gold in the 100-meter dash and again in the 4×100-meter relay, starting a remarkable string of three consecutive gold medals in that event – a feat no other woman has ever accomplished.

Ashford had a daughter, Raina, in 1985, but she soon returned to training. Ashford was selected as the American flag bearer for the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, where in addition to the 4×100-meter relay gold she also took silver in the 100-meter dash. When Ashford helped the U.S. win gold in the 4×100-meter relay at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, at 35 years old.



MEDAL RESULTS
1984 Los Angeles 100 meter dash Gold
1984 Los Angeles 4x100-meter relay Gold
1988 Seoul 4x100-meter relay Gold
1988 Seoul 100-meter dash Silver
1992 Barcelona 4x100-meter relay Gold

TICKETS NOW

ON SALE

DISCOUNTS FOR MILITARY, FIRST RESPONDERS, SENIORS, GROUPS AND MORE!​
RELATED GALLERY
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