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In the early 1980s there was much debate as to whether Evelyn Ashford or
Marlies Gohr (East Germany) was the world's fastest woman. The debate
was very much fuelled by the political climate at the time, which had
prevented an Olympic confrontation between the two, as first Ashford in
1980, and then Gohr in 1984, were the victims of political boycotts.
Following Ashford's 100m victory at the 1984 Olympics, she met Gohr at
Zurich on 22 August. Billed as the contest to confirm who was the
world's fastest woman, the two protagonists lived up to expectations,
with Ashford winning in a new world record of 10.76sec, ahead of Gohr in
10.84sec. Evelyn took a break from competition in 1985, giving birth
to her daughter, Raina, on 30 May.
She returned in 1986 as good as
ever, recording the year's fastest 100m time of 10.88sec, however, she
had a somewhat indifferent season in 1987 due to injury, which prevented
her from competing in the World Championships in Rome. Ashford
returned in 1988, in close to the best form of her career, but she and
the rest of the world's sprinters had to take a back seat that year to
the amazing feats of Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA). At the USA Olympic
Trials, Ashford lost her 100m world record to Griffith-Joyner, but
Evelyn comfortably qualified for the USA team behind her in 10.81sec,
the fastest non-winning time in history.
Griffith-Joyner blitzed her
rivals in the 100m final at the Olympic Games in Seoul on 25 September,
but Ashford (see photo above, lane 6) won the battle for second,
just edging Heike Drechsler (East Germany) in the lane inside her.
Ashford went on to win a gold medal in the 4 x 100m relay final, running
the final leg for the USA, and prevailing over her old rival Gohr who
anchored the second-placed East German team. (Ron Casey)
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