Alonzo Babers

[Field&Track]

Anyone know what the 1984, 400 meter olympic gold medalist has been up to these days. I remember reading that after he won gold, he had received orders to serve his tour of duty with the Air Force.

[gm]

Re: Alonzo Babers

From The Airman (http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0604/cover4.shtml):

For a brief moment in Los Angeles in 1984, Alonzo Babers basked in the world spotlight as a two-time track and field Olympic gold medal winner (above). But unlike other Olympic heroes who went on to bask in the fading glow of the winner’s light, he traded the notoriety and glory for a set of flight wings and a place in an Air Force cockpit.

The 1983 Air Force Academy graduate rose to fame in the 1984 summer Olympics when he ran the 400 meters in 44.27 seconds. Two days later, then-2nd Lt. Babers was part of the 4 x 400 relay team that also won the gold medal.

One month later, he reported for flight training, and later spent eight years on active duty flying C-141s and C-21s. He left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve, ultimately earning the rank of major.

Now he flies commercial aircraft and for three years has served as the academy liaison officer for the Baltimore, Md., area.

— Tech. Sgt. Mark Kinkade

[Track fan]

Re: Alonzo Babers

A success story. One thing about track because the money is relatively small you see more of these stories than Mike Tyson stories or Shawn Kemp stories...

[eldrick]

Re: Alonzo Babers

Legend

[paulthefan]

Re: Alonzo Babers

One of the true greats of our sport.. an Olympic hero of the highest caliber on and off the track. A 44.27 in 1984 out of the AF academy... immense talent..... but all that is too wordy, Eldrick put it much better.

[JohnG]

Re: Alonzo Babers

But would he have beaten Bert Cameron had he not been injured in the semi..............??

[Thrower]

Re: Alonzo Babers

yes.....

[JohnG]

Re: Alonzo Babers

As I recall, Cameron felt his hamstring twinge down the backstraight, actually jumped in the air, slowed, started running again and still ran close to 45 to qualify for the final. The consensus at the time was that his effort was worth sub 44

[Daisy]

Re: Alonzo Babers

Re: Bert Cameron, there was a good thread last year.

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/tfn/di ... age=132991

[JohnG]

Re: Alonzo Babers

Thanks Daisy! Maybe a fit Cameron and Babers would have pushed each other close to 44 or even sub-.