Edwin Moses
Edwin Moses
Edwin Corley Mosesis an American former track and field athlete, who won gold medals in the 400 m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finalsand set the world record in his event four times. In addition to his running, Moses was also an innovative reformer in the areas of Olympic eligibility and drug testing. In 2000, he was elected the first Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, an international service...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionHurdler
Date of Birth31 August 1955
CityDayton, OH
CountryUnited States of America
I used biomechanics to save time when I was competing.
I was always a mean and lean athlete - not tall - not large.
The joint lubrication was not what it was when I was competing, and I decided that not having arthritis or rheumatism for the rest of my life was a lot more important to me than returning to the track.
My father was also a principal of a school and mother was a curriculum advisor. Both were educators.
Lots of people let it go by and never accomplish what they want. I just wanted to see what I could do.
No one runs fast without an extreme amount of training. Like today, you see kids walking around dribbling a basketball. I had a bag with track shoes in it, and I used to go to the track every day.
My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet.
Maybe he could have just been plain tired, burned out. Lane 1 will do that to you.
A lot of the guys now are 400/200 type of runners. I don't think, being a 400-meter runner, you can sustain long-term performance in the event with just speed type of training. No one has ever been able to do it. So I think it is harder for them to stay in condition year round, especially for big meets, end-of-season major competitions and things.
I think with this whole influx into immediacy -- everyone is short term in their outlook. I made a tremendous commitment by not being able to go to medical school and not finishing all that I wanted to do in my engineering career. So I put everything into track and field. And just the passion I have for the sport, I never imagined I would be as good as I was. Once I realized I was that great, I put everything into maintaining it.
Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet.
I always had to keep improving my skills in order to remain competitive and keep winning.
There are so many people afraid of a task. They get so overwhelmed by the obstacles in front of them that they shy away from reaching beyond a position of safety.
You have to have already convinced yourself that you are going to win no matter what other influences are.