August 21, 2008
Posted: 1150 GMT

BEIJING, China - Edwin Moses looks as fit as ever. Wednesday night at a small gathering of past Olympians, I met and briefly spoke with a man who was a hero of mine when I was a teenage runner in North Carolina. He was proud of the U.S. runners in the 400-meter hurdles - Angelo Taylor led a sweep by the United States - but as often happens in a social setting, the topics of conversation changed to work and family.

Edwin Moses: The 400-meter legend traveled to Beijing with his son.
Edwin Moses: The 400-meter legend traveled to Beijing with his son.

For Moses, the highlight of the trip had been being able to travel to the Olympics with his 12-year-old son, Julian. It was only a few days before they departed for China that Julian was looking at the newly arrived visas and said, "Dad, thank you so much. I can't believe we're going to China."

If you're curious, Julian is a "renaissance man", in terms of sport, Edwin said. Julian plays just about everything: football, golf, tennis, scuba diving. But the old man says he will never push his son toward athletics. But interestingly enough, Julian called dad up one day to tell him about running the 800 meters in a meet.

"I'll tell you one thing about track, you have to be prepared," Julian said.

Mine was a short visit with Edwin. He was there to see some of the other greats from track and field – Tommie Smith, gold medalist at 200 meters in 1968; Harrison Dillard, four-time gold medalist in 1948 and 1952; and Mal Whitfield, who won five medals in '48 and '52.

These days Edwin has his hands full, working for the Laureus Academy, giving motivational speeches and building a new Web site.

"You need to go to edwinmoses.com, we have a lotta good stuff on there," he said in parting.

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Filed under: China • Olympics • Sports


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Rob. B   August 22nd, 2008 409 GMT

Edwin moses was the best ,he didn't need to cheat to be the best in the world.

Dee   August 22nd, 2008 711 GMT

A great representative of the US. Too bad he never got the attention and endorsements of his lighter teammates. Always classy and graceful. A great man and a great story.

Lorrie   August 22nd, 2008 1411 GMT

One of my favorite memories is of the first time I saw this man run on television-in Montreal. He was the picture of "poetry in motion" to me, and a classy guy. I was glad to see him on an Olympic commercial. I still have a 1984 Los Angeles Olympic mascot, dusty thru the years, that I named Edwin. Glassy Guy. Lucky you to meet him, even just for a bit.

P Lebert   August 22nd, 2008 1754 GMT

I think that the Amercan relay team bobbled the baton on purpose so that the runners would not be subjected to the humiliation of losing big time to the Usain and compatriots.

nick   August 22nd, 2008 1913 GMT

Dear U.S.A,

We want to thank U.S.A for sending a protest to the track officials on Churandy MARTINA,
two hours after Spearmon was disqualified.

What's one medal against all the other ones you already won? But yeh who's Netherlands Antilles compared to U.S.A?

U.S.A the EMPIRE of the WORLD don't forget there's a GOD U.S.A

We had one athlete running in the same race against 3 U.S.A natives (AFRICAN AMERICANS) in that same race do you find that's fair U.S.A?

But anyway we would like to thank you very very much.

Thanks for taking away the dream of our Island, the Island of CuraƧao.
See you in London 2012

Remember to come clean in 2012.

Yours truly,

Curacao Natives also know as NETHERLANDS ANTILLEANS

Quote of the day 'The spirit of the Olympics is to come together in the spirit of fair play. A small country like ours,

we did not come here as victims. I think it's a pity for a big country like the United States to make such a small statement.'

Gezellig   August 23rd, 2008 1007 GMT

Sorry to hijack this thread, but could Steve Almasy on his story on Mal Whitfield tell the end of the King George VI story. To start telling a great story, and then leave the reader hanging, is annoying to say the least. Thanks.

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