Evelyn Ashford 100m World Record 1984

Longer footage of Evelyn Ashford's 100m world record from Zurich in 1984.
Ashford recovered from a poor start to have a wonderful race against arch-rival Marlies Gohr of East Germany.
There are some lovely features of this race: Ashford's genuine surprise at her world record; the friendly congratulations given by Gohr at the end; and also watch for the reactions of some of the officials on the infield as Ashford crosses the line as the winner.
Recording taken from original broadcast, no copyright infringement intended.

[@singuntothelordinspiredbyt9140]

Evelyn Ashford. America's unrecognised Track and Field Legend.

[@louiswilliams4657]

You got a right ! She is a bad girl !

[@ruthtoliver9038]

I recognize Her🕎🕛🤴⚓🔱🌊🐬

[@leeiscool82]

So true!

[@peterstanghellini393]

I love watching Evelyn run. It's like poetry in motion

[@nataliemizutani822]

She's a hero...no drugs on her.she should be the best greatest athlete above all...most natural.God bless you Evelyne.❤️❤️🙏

[@user-fj6ms4vr6s]

She was part of the USA team the biggest drug cheat nation on earth.

[@Geotubest]

Ashford is the most graceful, beautiful, talented runner in history. She absolutely floats across the track. Amazing.

[@Skoshi33]

Without a doubt...

[@Geotubest]

@@waapeterm Yes, no doubt she was amazing as well.

[@nataliemizutani822]

Yes she is.no one can compare to her 👍

[@neilnelmar8007]

Rubbish

[@juarezpessoa1398]

I totally agree.

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

Evelyn Ashford should go down in history as the greatest sprinter of all time. She was not only a clean runner, but she was damned fast. And, as you saw here,she was extremely competitive. All young women sprinters today should have her picture on their wall.

[@M.O.G.]

Greenwolfe Green I agree with that 100%.

[@SHAKESPEAREAVEBOY]

How do you know that for certain? You must have been her coach , I guess??I heard she was good friends with FloJo, so you know were this is leading to?Marita Koch, the greatest female all around sprinter that will ever be.I wonder what juice Usain Bolt is on? Only a matter of time before he is caught.

[@joeortiz7715]

Marita Koch is the biggest cheater in Track. It's documented. Evelyn is naturally blessed. Koch was on massive doses of Oral Turinabol, so although her times were outstanding, it wasn't achieved naturally.

[@matt7iron]

+Joe Ortiz all them steroids and she still lost, maybe the east German should of tripled her Doses.

[@kurtfrancis4621]

Ashford was a player like the East Germans...don't delude yourself. Just look at her massive improvement of PBs during the 1979 World Cup.

[@jasonweller9616]

Ms Ashford was a pure runner & her competitive spirit was equally pure. I watch her during her UCLA days until her last race & she evolved from an untrained pure runner to the MOST disciplined pure runner during her time. Ms Ashford was dedicated to the sport & most importantly dedicated to accomplishing her goals. I wish she was able to compete in 1980, that would have been the time she would have won her first gold medal. I hope all is well with Ms Ashford, she was the greatest in her time.

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

I agree!

[@pmodel1]

Ashford was absolutely amazing to me! She regularly had to beat known cheats. The woman was downright fast!

[@user-fj6ms4vr6s]

She was a yank the biggest drug cheat nation in the world.

[@mothertree]

It does me much good to see the many fans come and watch this video and post such positive remarks about Evelyn.I hope she knows how much real track fans appreciate her as a great athlete,person and role model for our youngsters.Thanks Evelyn !

[@ysamgreen]

I watched this as a senior in high school and cried! What a class act!!!

[@peterpadling8276]

I admire the way the two East Germans went up to congratulate Evelyn that record could would not have been possible unless you have a tough field of competitors.

[@joeortiz7715]

Because they knew they were doped and Ashford was naturally gifted.

[@woodywoodpecker2292]

Evelyn Ashford was a class act. Phenomenal!

[@kantricedorsey8142]

She was just so doggone smooth. Even with a poor start, she never let it show. She just motors those muscular, brown legs down that track!

[@websurfer1000]

OMG the days of the cold war clashes! The stakes felt so much higher then. East vs West. We boycotted the 80s games in Moscow and they boycotted the 84 games in LA then you had this clash and others on the world stage we missed out during the two games. Whew...the first games with both sides back in were the 88 games. Ashford anchoring the 4X100 in 88 is probably one of her most exciting races. Evelyn was the queen of sprinting for a long time until FloJo's 88 season. Ashford was still the better relay runner and thats why she anchored. Probably one of the most thrilling 4X100's ever.

[@chrisdarby833]

I can't stop loving Evelyn, so pristine, so sweet! great athlete.

[@jazzysam9590]

Watching Evelyn run today 8/13/22 still gives me goosebumps. She deserves more accolades from USA track and field because when she raced she gave her all and left it on the track. This race and the 1988 race when she snatched that East German down the stretch in the 4x100 are just awesome.

[@user-go5tc8nm8q]

That was actually the same East German in both races, lol

[@BDQ1975]

What makes this record more amazing, Ms. Ashford just became pregnant at the time, if you consider that her daughter was born full term, end of May 1985.

[@BreuckelensFinest]

She was adorable and darling. I loved her child like reaction to her world record. It was so genuine. Sweetness.

[@sultrys2291]

Love to see the interactions between Gohr and Ashford at the end of the video.

[@fiftypercentnowhere6433]

One of the greatest athletes ever. Brilliant woman.

[@ladyvaderkmc1]

Use to love watching her run! One of the greatest sprinters of all time in my humble opinion.

[@Robylazarus]

Agreed 100 % with you.

[@stephenthomas4179]

She was indeed my greatest female sprinter of all time....even though Flo-Jo had the best Biomechanical running form and took the world record away from Evelyn at an almost incredible 3/10 tenths reduction in time....

[@umarabdul-ali6868]

Fastest female of all time without doping, simply poetry in motion and I truly believed Evelyn love chasing down the competition.

[@leifkunzel9843]

They were all, i mean all, on the stuff in this time. Anything else is your wish.

[@colfer222]

Evelyn...pure class, poetry in motion..

[@balasubramaniannariampally9366]

Whar about JOYNER. SHE WAS SUPERB. HER RECORD STILL STANDS. A ROCKET AT THE END OF THE RACE. SHE PICKS UP SPEED,WHIÇH NO ONE CAN MATCH

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

Ashford was unreal.

[@sinsin1697]

She was very real... I guess because of your esteem level,, somebody like that seems unreal... Don't mean to be rude just expressing myself like you...

[@chinelorevival81]

Evelyn Ashford!!! I can't stop loving her ways on the tracts. It was this particular East German girl who had already taken off in the last leg at the 1988 Soeul Olympics 4×100 relay that she dealt with again. Evelyn ran the race of her entire life and purchased that gold for America. It was awesome indeed. The whole world stood still for her. By the time Florence Griffith Joyner handed the baton to her, the Russian and East German girls had already taken off and ahead of her. How Evelyn won that race is still a big mystery.

[@rakshitapadmajitweerakkody8350]

@Chinelo Revival. Mystery to simpletons and the uneducated. Mystery to those whose knowledge of speed is pathetically limited to muscle power and PEDs. Go learn how ancient martial artists achieved with speed that which they lacked by way of physique.

[@blackonics]

YES! Greatest American Female Sprinter of All time.

[@MrSailichisanga]

Flo Jo?

[@rakshitapadmajitweerakkody8350]

@Saili Chisanga. NO NO!

[@erich1780]

@@rakshitapadmajitweerakkody8350 Flo Jo's best time in 1984 was 10.99. in fact her best time till 1987 was 10.96. She made quite a jump in 1988 to 10.49.

[@Nii1978]

Every respected athletics experts cites Evelyn Ashford as one of the greatest CLEAN sprinters of all time. This is indisputable.

[@simonwoods8809]

+Nii1978 Indeed! A beautiful, flowing, natural style which cannot be artificially created or enhanced. Not a big lady by any means but just a wonderful, natural turnover.

[@Nautilus1972]

Agreed. Flo-Jo's records have stood for 32 years. Dirty AF.

[@stephenthomas4179]

She indeed my greatest female sprinter of all time....👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@sashamoore5547]

Facts Flo jo record Hmmm no comment

[@dogsandyoga1743]

@@Nautilus1972 So when did Flo Jo test dirty exactly? I forget...

[@joaotakanorijamjao1312]

Evelyn - THE QUEEN ON THE TRACK !!!

[@borood1188]

Evelyn was pure clean talent. Much respect.

[@sinsin1697]

Mudboy you actually said something nice about a black American pow-wow isn't that something you still mudboy just tell me this how the fuck do you know it's clean you must be a fucking psychic

[@GundaBadmarsh]

thanks so much - i remember watching this on tv back in '84!

[@VibeFly]

You can see in this footage why Evelyn Ashford won this race. Look at her leg stride compared to Gohr the(East German Robot) Evelyns a natural sprinter with long flowing strides in her step whereas Gohr is a muscle pounding strider with all her steroid injections with quick short strides!! A classic example of Pure sprinting talent vs. the Chemical enhanced athletes! There has never been a more natural, blessed sprinter than Evelyn Ashford! In my book the greatest female sprinter of all time! I think she's the last of an era of TRUE sprinters without chemical enhancement!

[@shamoriwall]

VibeFly I totally agree with you! Evelyn Ashford will always be my all time favorite.

[@stevie586]

VibeFly so funny, but true!!! Gohr looks like she's about to murder someone, all tense and juiced up with roid rage! Ashford is relaxed, and although more a natural technique, runs very technically, and takes what she knows is hers. I love the confidence and patience of Ashford!

[@joeortiz7715]

stevie586 Agreed 👍

[@kurtfrancis4621]

Obviously you chose not to look at Ashford's massive improvement in performance level during the 1979 season. Take a look at her seasonal bests from 1976 to 1979. She obviously made the choice to be a "player" on the world level that year or get left in the dust. Don't delude yourselves, people. 100 Meters - Seasonal Bests 1979 10.97 +0.9 Walnut (USA) 16 JUN 1979 1978 11.26 Helsinki (FIN) 29 JUN 1978 1977 11.25 Gelsenkirchen (FRG) 25 JUN 1977 1976 11.21 +0.6 Montreal (CAN) 25 JUL 1976 200 Meters - Seasonal Bests 1979 21.83 -0.2 Montreal (CAN) 24 AUG 1979 1978 22.66 Westwood (USA) 10 JUN 1978 1977 22.62 Westwood (USA) 10 JUN 1977

[@flatsch]

totally agree w you. her technique is both natural and efficient. what happen if you have that kind of gifted athlete enhanceing w drug overload -> florence griffith

[@MirjanaLfan]

What a sporting reaction from Marlies Gohr.

[@rickposner]

THANKS! PeteThomason a million times over. I remember watching this live and I enjoy each time I watch it as if it were my first. Regarding the comments re doping, whatever happened, it's still one of the best performances in the world of track and field. Evelyn ran like a veritable gazelle and goes down in my book as the most fluid and beautiful sprinters of all time.

[@trippytrellis7033]

Awesome! I remember watching this when it aired live. Evelyn Ashford rocks!!😊😷

[@keepingitneutrall8701]

Never knew of this amazing woman until watching the women's 4x100 relay with Flo. I tip my hat to you also Evelyn, you were outstanding and I'm so proud of you

[@ramlangoddos4425]

Evelyn Ashford will remain to me an absolutely all time greatest woman sprinter. And look at her body size and height. What a pocket rocket!

[@ewr2784]

Awesome run by Evelyn. Pure speed. Greatest ever!

[@M.O.G.]

she's still my favorite. she was a lady all the way and very humble.

[@angusmcdonald892]

Awesome sprinting from Ashford.

[@ericlopez9107]

DAMN! Evelyn Ashford is such a BAD ASS!!! Amazing athlete !!!

[@jasmineskydancer]

Thank you Thomason for sharing. What's amazing is Ashford's start off the blocks - and still getting the WR. If her start was about the same as the first three sprinters off the block, she may have had 10.73 s

[@kaik368]

Evelyn Ashford, my all time favourite. Simply the best!!!

[@paulsmallriver6066]

Lovely woman, beautiful and elegant runner, classy lady

[@Allhoney33]

Anybody know what Ashford is up to now? Man I remember as a kid, I lived to watch her. The excitement, the anticipation, the nervousness........I loved her. A good clean runner and beautiful lady!

[@sarahmpierce]

This is really late, but she was my neighbor a few years back! One of the sweetest people I've known, she even let me hold her Olympic medals

[@Allhoney33]

Sarah Pierce Wow....lucky you! She always came across as sweet and humble. I would like to see an updated interview of her or something. She's a true legend

[@MrVpassenheim]

Agreed. Nowadays, it gets harder to tell who is and isn't cheating.

[@matt7iron]

+Sarah Pierce your lucky to have met her, should of got a selfie photo, i would give her a hug if i ever see her in public. that's how much respect i have for her representing America.

[@joeortiz7715]

She owns several Restaurants.

[@empressunicorn5617]

She was phenomenal !! Damn

[@peters6119]

She was completely left in the blocks and was almost a meter down. But she still caught the completely drugged up Gohr and still set the WR. 10.77 is still extremely fast by today's standards but this was on a slower track with slower shoes in Europe where the air and wind and temperature conditions are never as conducive to fast sprinting as they are in the U.S. This was a great performance by one of the nicer T&F athletes of that era.

[@giulioproietti5588]

the strongest and longest-lived American sprinter of all time

[@gwill9]

my all time favorite olympic athlete love Evelyn

[@perkasahaleluya3923]

Evelyn Ashford 👍👍 the Greatest 100 m women all the time

[@wendycumberbatch1463]

I was in school when she ran, this is what you called running clean. From 1 fromer althlete ,Evelyn you have been and stiil are an inspiration to me

[@TheCopper05]

Ashford really proved, that she was the true Olympic Champion in 1984. She won in LA, then took on Gohr in Zurich just a few weeks later. Gohr showed true sportsmanship after the race, and Ashford was truly the queen of the sprints, at least until Florence Griffith-Joyner came along.

[@oshawaxpress]

She was superb. She was clean. A graceful and beautiful athlete and a gracious and beautiful person. You and BS are clearly well acquainted.

[@musik102]

It's amazing that a world record could be achieved with such a poor start.

[@descross3501]

It took a WR to hold Gohr.

[@chocolateme1000]

I am not sure where you get your information from but Ashford was very clean. There was never ever testing that stated other wise. She simply was pure talent and wonderful technique. Please don't let your hating ways blind you to what was the truth.

[@gdr205]

Sure she was

[@whatamericamademe]

People forget before Flo Jo was Eveyln Ashford. She was short but had such great strides

[@revpgesqredux]

I was there watching Evelyn in person 😍

[@ErikMalkavian]

Evelyn Ashford - Olympic Golden!

[@Pistolwhipperz]

Evelyn was so smooth; similar to Carl Lewis, and Allyson Felix in style.

[@rakshitapadmajitweerakkody8350]

@ King Tutt. 👍

[@JesseLockeHere2Do]

That was damn good quality for a recording on VHS tape.

[@hatcher2262]

What sportsmanship! you don't see that anymore. What a smooth runner.

[@aaronbarlow4376]

Look at that sportsmanship from the Germans congratulating her, not so much nowadays.

[@gmnboss]

Love to watch her fly ....beautifully effortless with determination and no muscles!!

[@lecinquiemeroimage]

Evelyn Ashford incomparable grace, speed and femininity for very long decades!

[@desid657]

wow Evelyn reminds me of today's Shelly Ann Fraser, she is tiny but had quick leg speed. Amaxing

[@andersonarmstrong2650]

That body type versus the longer taller Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson body type. Gail Devers is another pocket rocket type sprinter.

[@glenntownes3113]

No comparison between the two.. Ashford was much more graceful, elegant and smoother than Fraser..

[@singuntothelordinspiredbyt9140]

Evelyn running style is similar to shelly ann of Jamaica..they are short but have amazing leg speed and long strides..

[@smoothnubian]

thanx for posting

[@AHC63]

Miss Evelyn ROCKS. Case closed...

[@bailjumper439]

evelyn ashford, legend.

[@dongerramarco9617]

love this woman

[@joetube141]

Evelyn appeared to get a very average start here yet managed to run a 10.76 ? , OMG. A 10.7 100 Meters is actually a kick-ass time for a Superman. We should now refer to Evelyn Ashford as Super Woman.

[@samanimations2002]

If her reaction was faster I think she could’ve ran a 10.6 here

[@peterlawford9618]

What a athlete Evelyn Ashford was, greatest sprinter ever .🐐🐐🐐

[@ss-py6tf]

Evelyn Ashford did not get the real recognition she deserved.

[@miloandtock1]

Ashford most certainly was NOT on drugs. I think Marlies Gohr was talented and made even more talented by the aid of drugs...but she knew - as did Marita Koch - that Evelyn would prevail most of the time...even though Evelyn usually had bad starts like she did here. The reaction of people on the infield is telling...but Marlies (and the other East Germans) did show surprising sportsmanship here with congratulating Evelyn - she knew Evelyn had her number like she did in 1988 relay anchor leg!

[@garyjones1287]

Evelyn Ashford was one of the best of all time ran like Black Silk "The Come Back Kid 🥰🥰🥰 is what they called her 😀

[@denniseverett1904]

Excellent sportsmanship by Gohr Great race. Ashford was the best in the World until '88 with Flo Jo setting the 100 and 200 that still stands.

[@gildajames3208]

Legendary!!!

[@l.c.1704]

I remember Evelyn Ashford. She made running look effortless. She always seemed to just glide by her competition. A true blue track runner with no scandal. She is much beloved and the first woman to run under 11 seconds.

[@YourFitnessQuest]

I remember watching her run when I was a teenager. Time has made me appreciate her even more because she was so good, yet humble and quiet unlike some of the more attention seeking personalities we've seen since then.

[@michaelmooney7341]

..She really knew Ashford was the Best!!! Maybe last clean WR..Just wish she would have run more 200s. Her better race...

[@galenstone9097]

The best clean runner of the era.

[@Robin_Hood1989]

I remember this race so well. It was astonishing that she not only broke her own world record but also win so convincingly against the invincible East European female athletes. This was the race that validated the triumph the American had in 1984. Unfortunately for American, the clean image was tarnished by Flo-Jo (and later Marion Jones) whose drastic performance improvement in 1988 and sudden retirement made very few believe that she was clean, and more so in that she probably took more PEDs than the documented GDRs. Ashford finished far behind Flo-Jo for the second place in Seoul. Without Flo-Jo's sudden rise in 1988, Ashford would have won the final cold-war era Olympic gold as a world record holder, and undoubtedly the greatest of all time unless Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce can win in Tokyo. Her record would have stood until late 90s and the progression would also become more nature.

[@wernerschneider4460]

I remember watching this race on TV. As the GDR boycotted the Olympic Games in LA, Evelyn's Olympic title was challenged in Zurich. But she gave the best answer possible by winning.

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

It was easy to tell when an athlete was doping. They always had a dramatic jump in their times. Evelyn was fast right out of the womb. She was as pure as the driven snow. Hehehehe!!! Love you Evelyn!!!!!1

[@stevie586]

+Greenwolfe Green Agreed. Ashford was a beautiful, classy woman, and no one could convince me she wasn't as clean as a whistle.

[@Fatima502]

Well I was an Ashford fan as well, but remember Göhr was pretty quick as a youngster too, 10.88 as a junior

[@dcgrrl321]

Danny62 Not sure what you mean by junior, but Gohr tested positive for steroids as a 17 year old indicating drug use from her earliest days. Ashford on the other hand has never been accused by anyone in the game, not even the whistleblowers, of drug use. She was in a class by herself.

[@SHAKESPEAREAVEBOY]

Need a reference for this accusation please.

[@kurtfrancis4621]

Obviously you chose not to look at Ashford's massive improvement in performance level during the 1979 season. Take a look at her seasonal bests from 1976 to 1979. She obviously made the choice to be a "player" on the world level that year or get left in the dust. Don't delude yourselves, people. 100 Meters - Seasonal Bests 1979 10.97 +0.9 Walnut (USA) 16 JUN 1979 1978 11.26 Helsinki (FIN) 29 JUN 1978 1977 11.25 Gelsenkirchen (FRG) 25 JUN 1977 1976 11.21 +0.6 Montreal (CAN) 25 JUL 1976 200 Meters - Seasonal Bests 1979 21.83 -0.2 Montreal (CAN) 24 AUG 1979 1978 22.66 Westwood (USA) 10 JUN 1978 1977 22.62 Westwood (USA) 10 JUN 1977

[@kincamell2]

Much Appreciation.

[@florentinosagudang1544]

I keep on watching ds...congrats always miss evelyn

[@stevewashington4372]

As blown away as I am by FloJo's absolute dominance of the sport when she reached her prime, Evelyn Ashford is still my favorite female sprinter of all time. The gazelle-like beauty of her form, her cheetah-like strength, speed, and concentration, and her tough but generous disposition on the track is a genius combination. All these years later, still a big fan of her amazing athletic legacy and sportsmanship.

[@muc390]

Queen Evelyn! And to think this race was shorty after the Olympics while Gohr was fresh! Total ownage!

[@andrewdelacruz2064]

Except for Evelyn, all the other runners in the race was on roids. And yet it was Evelyn who won the 100m in a world record time. And all this even though she had the worst start of all the runners. Evelyn Ashford was really 30-40 years ahead of her time. Till today, even with better supplements, training and technology, the world's best women's 100m runners are struggling to beat 11 seconds. And yet here in 1984, Evelyn had just set the world record of 10.76 by pure talent, hard work and determination.

[@AllThingsSerene]

10.77 with a slow start crazy!!!

[@Skoshi33]

The RACE was run in 10.76. Ashford probably ran a sub 10.70 given her behind left in the blocks.

[@sinsin1697]

And no phone was that a slow start... It's just that the other had better starts...

[@russianbot2179]

Superb! Phenomenal! Fantastic!

[@augusto8807]

Evelin , the best SPRINTER OF ALL TIMES... !!!!!...The worst start, but the best arrival. TESTOSTEFLORENCE?????....ONLY A SHADOW SAD IN THE SPORT ..

[@1964karlos]

Evelyn Ashford was a beautiful runner who seemed to float across the asphalt. With a decent start that winning time would have been at least 10.70 or better which is mighty impressive 36 years later.

[@sinsin1697]

Very very classy...

[@JJDPROMEDIAPRODUCTION]

My Favorite Olympian!! Evelyn Ashford. Gorh was all steroid up..

[@TheChico868]

Wow she ran past that dude near the line.

[@dolomiteblue]

LOL

[@jahladagaming]

Drugs vs natural talent.

[@Bronzebk]

Nicely stated.

[@DullTorpedoFilms]

What's the difference?

[@209vet]

Ashford vs Flo Jo

[@rinconzellgadiss]

+Paul Jones Ashord pure talente, Florence Miss Doping, very sure

[@jp15sil24]

exactly same for marion jones ,carl lewis. USA athletes were doped as the other ones.

[@MrGloryglorymanutd18]

Ashford Vs Frazier price in their primes would be the dream 100m race and I believe that the winner would be under 10.70.ashford would slight favourite because the time she ran almost 40 years ago.

[@rakshitapadmajitweerakkody8350]

EVELYN ASHFORD QUEEN OF THE SHORT SPRINT PERIOD!

[@dmoody4628]

proof that you dont need drugs!

[@Fudge_Fantasy]

Dime Damali or to have long legs

[@kurtfrancis4621]

another deluded individual you are

[@arathgomez615]

K Francis Do you also think Allyson Felix dopes?

[@kurtfrancis4621]

@@arathgomez615 No, but Felix didn't have a major leap in performance levels like Ashford did in 1979. Go back and look at the data.

[@sinsin1697]

My question to you is do you know Evelyn Ashford personally how do you know if she's clean it's kind of weird.... People say the strangest thing... I mean are you saying this like you really know this woman

[@dcgrrl321]

This is how you do it! You got your gold when some of your key competitors couldn't come. So, you go open a can of whup ass on them in WR time right after! The mental toughness of Evelyn Ashford. My all-time fav.

[@lawmteachhakchhuak2386]

A fan of Evelyn from India...I saw her run in New Delhi in 89..Admired her as she often outran the drugs tainted all conquering East German girls.

[@davidxxxesp1]

and she had a bad start 10.6 and she was clean