Monaco – Oct 10, 2012: At the heart of the temporary collection of the IAAF Centenary Historic Exhibition, Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch, Barcelona, Spain, (Saturday 13 October to Sunday 25 November 2012) are the artefacts related to World record performances and performers, and some of the great rivalries which have taken place since the foundation of the IAAF in 1912.
Part 2
Michael Johnson has loaned a competition number from his Olympic 200m/400m victories and World record (200m, 19.32) in Atlanta 1996, which will sit next to the competition spikes of arch rival Frank Fredericks, now an IAAF Council Member.
Twenty years earlier in Montreal, Poland’s Irena Szewinska, these days also an IAAF Council Member, was creating her own World record magic but for her it was at 400m (49.28), and her Olympic gold medal from that marvellous run will be on display.
Another Council Member Alberto Juantorena of Cuba was also at the height of his career in Montreal 76, taking 400m and 800m gold, the latter in a World record (1:43.50). In celebration he sprayed his running spikes in gold paint, and these shoes will be in our displays. Next to them will be the Olympic 200m winning spikes from the same Games of Jamaica’s Don Quarrie, which in stark contrast to Juantorena’s footwear have been dipped in bronze. Two great runners, two unique artefacts!
Over the barriers, we are delighted to display the 1984 Olympic 400m Hurdles gold of IAAF Council Member and IOC Vice President Nawal El Moutawakel, and the competition bodysuit and spikes from her Moroccan compatriot Nezha Bidouane’s 2001 World championship victory over the one lap hurdles.
At the sprint hurdles, Britain’s Colin Jackson’s World record competition vest (12.91) from Stuttgart 93 will sit alongside the 1997 World Championship winning spikes of USA’s Allen Johnson.
Back on the flat, Pauline Davis-Thompson, IAAF Council Member, the 2000 Olympic 200m champion has loaned her gold medal from The Bahamas’ ‘golden girls’ relay victory at the same Games.
On the road, Paula Radcliffe has loaned the shoes and competition vest which took her to the current World Marathon record (2:15:25) in London on 13 April 2003.
Duelling down the runways of the world for many years were Britain’s Jonathan Edwards and Sweden’s Christian Olsson. We have a framed competition bib from the World record holder’s 18.29m victory in Gothenburg 95, while his rival has loaned the jumping shoes, embroidered with his name and the Swedish flag, which he wore to win the IAAF World Championships title in Paris 2003.
Our collection’s most recent additions are the World Championships Long Jump bodysuit and famous ‘1111’ number from Dwight Phillips’ victory in Daegu 2011, while Australia’s two-time World and 2000 Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman is loaning her warm-up t-shirt with competition number from her second World title (Seville 99).
Finally, at the Official Opening Ceremony on the evening of 15 October, two days after the exhibition opens to the public, our athlete guests of honour, 1976 and 1977 IAAF World Cross Country champion, Carmen Valero, 1992 Olympic 1500m champion, Fermin Cacho, and 3-times IAAF World 800m champion, Wilson Kipketer, will be loaning significant items from their careers. Watch this space!
The IAAF Centenary Historic Exhibition, one of the core celebrations of 100 years of Athletics Excellence, puts the IAAF and the sport of Athletics into a historical context, illustrating their remarkable legacy with the greatest ever assembled collection of artefacts from our sport’s history.
The IAAF Centenary Historic Exhibition is open to the public for six weeks from Saturday 13 October, with an official opening ceremony (by invitation only) on the evening of Monday 15 October. —- IAAF
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