I finally met Tanni Grey-Thompson. Yes, The Right Honourable Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. And I even shook her hand. But this was last year, well before this Coronavirus madness where you can't be within 2 meters, or 6 feet of anyone NOT living in your household. Last year, Tanni … [Read more...] about My meeting with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Olympic History
Ron Davis & Filbert Bayi: Looking to Past for its Athletics Future [Part 2]
>> Click here for Part 1. This article is written by Myles Schrag, a freelance writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. He is working with Ron Davis and Filbert Bayi on their memoirs. At the time of this writing, Feb 2019, Ron Davis is back in Tanzania. Bayi - Making a Difference Back … [Read more...] about Ron Davis & Filbert Bayi: Looking to Past for its Athletics Future [Part 2]
Brothers across the miles: Ron Davis & Filbert Bayi, Looking to Past for its Athletics Future
This article is written by Myles Schrag, a freelance writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. He is working with Ron Davis and Filbert Bayi on their memoirs. Filbert Bayi is probably best known for his 1974 Commonwealth Games 1500m gold medal and world record, where he ran from gun to … [Read more...] about Brothers across the miles: Ron Davis & Filbert Bayi, Looking to Past for its Athletics Future
Did you Forget Mike Agostini’s Birthday Today?
Mike Agostini would be 82 years old today. Sadly, he passed away on May 12, 2016. On August 7, 1954 during the Empire Games (now called the Commonwealth Games) in Vancouver, B.C., Roger Bannister of England and John Landy of Australia met for the first time at the newly constructed Empire … [Read more...] about Did you Forget Mike Agostini’s Birthday Today?
Filbert Bayi & Tanzania’s Journey To First Ever Olympic Games Medals
This story was written by Ronald W. Davis. Credit to Tariq Shakoor for editing this article. Read more about Ron at Interview with Ron Davis, former Speed City Spartan. The prospect of making history never dawned on me when I journeyed to Africa in the summer of 1974. I was just excited to … [Read more...] about Filbert Bayi & Tanzania’s Journey To First Ever Olympic Games Medals
Why are English and French the Official Olympic Languages?
Why are English and French the Official Olympic Languages? Because the founder of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and “father” of the modern Olympics was a Frenchman? Baron Pierre de Coubertin? Because the IOC is based in Lausanne, the French-speaking part of Switzerland? Because … [Read more...] about Why are English and French the Official Olympic Languages?
The Effect of the Berlin Wall Going Down
November 9, 1989. 25 Years ago today. Where were you? It doesn't really matter because what does matter is the freedom for all people. We still have a long to go. But how did it affect Track and Field, and the Olympics? The 1992 Olympics was instrumental because it would be the … [Read more...] about The Effect of the Berlin Wall Going Down
The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy
John Akii-Bua (December 3, 1949 – June 20, 1997) was a Ugandan hurdler coached by famed British-born coach Malcolm Arnold. He won the 400 meter hurdles Olympic Gold medal in Munich 1972 from Lane 1, and was denied a repeat chance with the African boycott in Montreal 1976. Unlike other Olympic … [Read more...] about The John Akii Bua Story: An African Tragedy
Have We Only Produced 100 faster sprinters in the last 44 years?
At the end of the 1960's, the low-altitude world records were... 100m 10.03 (4.7% worse than today) 200m 19.9H = 20.14 auto (5.0% worse than today) 400m 44.67 (converted from Y 3.5% worse than today) Today, those times would rank #103, #103, and #115. And we are talking about … [Read more...] about Have We Only Produced 100 faster sprinters in the last 44 years?
To An Athlete Dying Young – Remembering Ivo Van Damme
I remember watching Belgium's Ivo Van Damme win a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. You see, I was there, even though I was rooting for John Walker. Actually, I was rooting for the Kenyans who boycotted the that Olympics. Then 151 days later, Ivo Van Damme was tragically … [Read more...] about To An Athlete Dying Young – Remembering Ivo Van Damme
