When 1987 1500 Meter World Champ Bronze Medalist Jim Spivey was asked at the New York Athletic Club this past Friday night what he felt his greatest race was, he described his 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 with emotion.
“In the lead for the last 2 laps, when I was coming off the turn of the last 200 meters, I felt the hair in my arms rise up!”
Watching and listening also to the other 14 Legends present at the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) Donation Ceremony, it seemed that one’s arm hair rose and stayed up during the inspirational hour & a half long presentation!
The brainchild of the World Athletics team led by Sebastian Coe, Athletics historian and MOWA museum curator and emcee Chris Turner wore two hats at the ceremony, as he served as both the presenter as well as the presentee!
Alongside WA CEO Jon Ridgeon & MOWA Founding Patron Michael H. Burke, Turner regaled the audience with the stories (alongside inspirational video clips!) of each of the Legends present. It was after each salute that the Legends not only spoke about their achievements, but also donated to MOWA some of their artifacts from their illustrious careers.
“MOWA is the only sports museum in the world that is free,” noted Turner, who also emphasized the outstanding state of the art virtual museum tour one can do on the computer right from their home.
“That’s incredible!” said Marathon Legend Bill Rodgers. “What a great way to promote Our Sport and keep the past alive!”
And World Athletics has shown the way!
Bell Lap – The honorees/presenters as listed by the World Athletics statement release:
- Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic Marathon & 2-time Boston Marathon champion and 1985 Chicago Marathon winner.
- Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medallist, London & Chicago Marathon winner.
- Rosa Mota, 1987 World and 1988 Olympic Marathon champion, 3-time Boston Marathon winner, & 3-time European champion.
- Kathrine Switzer, winner of the 1974 New York Marathon, and the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor.
- Curt Clausen, 1999 World 50km race walk bronze medallist.
- Bill Rodgers, 4-times Boston and 4-times New York Marathon winner.
- Frank O’Mara, 2-time World Indoor 1500m champion.
- Marcus O’Sullivan, 3-time World Indoor 1500m champion – represented by Ray Flynn.
- Jim Spivey, 1987 World 1500m bronze medallist.
- Victor Roethlin, 2007 World Marathon bronze & 2010 European champion.
- Dave Wottle, 1972 Olympic 800m champion.
As well as these 11 new donors, the ceremony will welcome another four athletes whose donations to MOWA were announced in previous years BUT who have never had the opportunity to officially present their artefacts.
- 2021 – Jacqueline Hansen, twice world marathon record breaker.
- 2021 – Grete Waitz, inaugural world marathon champion, 9-time NYC marathon winner. Grete’s was a posthumous donation made by her husband & coach Jack Waitz.
- 2023 – Orlando Pizzolato, two-time NYC Marathon champion.
- 2024 – Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon champion.
What a great tribute to the sports of Track and Field. Amazing support from my great friend Jeff Benjamin. Congratulations to one and all.
Tony, thank you for your kind note! I still have the RW 1976 Olympic book with you on the cover ! Sorry we did not get to catch up,
kind regards, Larry Eder, Editor/RunBlogRun