The Unbreakable Legacy of Edwin Moses: Shattering Records and Inspiring Generations

By Jayson Panganiban July 29, 2024 07:19

Photo by Tony Duffy/Getty Images

Moses was born on August 31, 1955, in Dayton, Ohio, to Daniel and Gladys Moses. He had a strong mind and natural skills, and he was smart in the classroom as well as on the field from an early age. He first turned his attention to basketball and football in high school, but it was on the track that Moses really showed off; Moses managed the 180-yard low hurdles and canopy hurdles.

Moses accepted an academic scholarship to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he planned to study physics and was offered numerous athletic scholarships from other institutions. While Morehouse did not have a track facility of its own, Moses trained on the public high school tracks around town and qualified for the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400m hurdles.

Meteoric Rise to Dominance

He was relatively unknown before he made his mark at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, setting an Olympic and world record of almost half a second with a time clocked at 47.63 seconds to win gold in the men's 400m hurdles. This astonishing display started arguably the most extraordinary sequence in sports history.

Moses went on to win a staggering 122 races in the event over the next decade without defeat, an unprecedented streak that still stands today. Over this span, he posted consecutive world records, lowering it to 47.13 in 1980 and then, on his twenty-eighth birthday, running the first ever sub-47 seconds at 46. Moses was the greatest of all time for a reason: his remarkable work ethic, revolutionary hurdling style, and mental toughness.

Coping with Adversity and the Fight for Clean Sport

He faced formidable obstacles during his career despite his unforgettably dominant success on the track. Forming was the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which the United States boycotted, robbing Moses of an opportunity to reflect his name in Poland, which was marred and covered a third Olympic gold decoration. This only served to fuel Moses, who went on to break further world records and leave the sport having etched his name in its history.

He used his voice to come out for clean sport, speaking up about the rise in performance-enhancing drugs more than off the track. He soon directed drug testing for the world's best-known random in-competition and out-of-competition programs when The Athletics Congress hired him.

Inspiring Future Generations

Moses endeared his imposing presence to a global audience with unmatched competitive understanding, professionalism, and pleasantness. He received numerous awards, such as the esteemed Sullivan Award in 1984 and the Jesse Owens Award thrice.

Moses's legacy extends far beyond his athletic achievements and will continue to be felt in the sport of track and field and across the Olympic movement. He has held numerous administrative positions, including being a member of the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission and on the President's Circle for advising the President of The National Academy of Sciences.

The Edwin Moses Story Continues

The Edwin Moses journey is a tale of the utmost sporting pedigree, steadfast morality, and unrelenting pursuit of perfection. His world record performances, radical approach to training, and uncompromising commitment to clean sport have helped forge a legacy of one the most iconic figures in track & field history.