Ranked number one in the world in the 100-meter dash at age twenty-three, Ashford believed she was in the prime of her career as the time neared for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, USSR. However, along with dozens of other American athletes, Ashford was devastated when President Jimmy Carter announced a U.S. boycott of the Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Ashford abandoned her training, and she and her husband, Ray Washington, spent the summer traveling around the United States and visiting relatives. However, Ashford soon set her sights on the 1984 Games. She took first place in the 1981 World Cup in both 100- and 200-meter races and was the U.S. National Champion in 1983, in both sprints. However, after winning her first two 100-meter races in the 1983 World Championships, she pulled her right hamstring muscle and fell in the final race. The injury stayed with her into 1984 and was still bothering her as the Olympics began.
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User Comments Add a comment…
5 months ago
I wanted to be you! I never admired other persons who played sports but I remember watching you and thinking how awesome it must be. I ran track in college and now coach a local team. Flo Jo may have gotten the reconigtion but you will always have my admiration and respect.
about 1 year ago
evelyn ashford u are truly the best in my book i loved flo jo but im sorry i feel as god as my witness she took steriods that secret may never come out because she is dead u just cant be that fast and that muscular in one year speed takes time u growed into your speed and got faster she cheated im sorry but in my book u are the fastest woman in the world her records need to be taken due to substance abuse i love u eve u are simply the best.