His professional demeanor and those dark glasses gave people the impression that Edwin Moses was more than just an athlete...He was an intellectual.

Edwin Moses (AP Photo)

Moses, aside from being intelligent, was the best 400 meters hurdler; and if he chose to, could of competed in any other event and possibly won at that as well.

But Moses opted to focus his concentration on one of the most taxing of all track events --the 400 meter hurdles-- winning gold in world record time at the Montreal Games in 1976.

After being unable to compete in the Moscow Games in 1980 due to the U.S. boycott, Moses won gold again four years later before his country in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Moses also established an extraordinary record of victories until he lost to his fellow countryman Danny Harris in 1987. Following retirement, Moses has been an active spokesperson for for his sport as well as a crusader against drug abuse.


Terra Sports/Reuters