Grant Holloway and Sebastian Coe with Holloway's vest and bib number at the MOWA Exhibition in Budapest (© Mercedes Oliver)
A surprise presentation to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) highlighted today’s MOWA Collection Donation Ceremony at the MOWA Exhibition in Budapest.
The presentation of his uniform vest and bib from his win in the 110m hurdles two days ago was made by three-time world champion Grant Holloway to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
Today’s event, recognising recent donations to the Museum’s growing collection of memorabilia and artefacts, was made at Etele Plaza, site of the MOWA exhibit, which runs through to the conclusion of the World Athletics Championships on Sunday (27).
MOWA Director Chris Turner opened the proceedings, mentioning yesterday’s “Gathering of Champions” and introducing Coe as a double Olympic gold medallist. Coe thanked the invited guests for being donors, saying: “All of what you see in our display cabinets has come through donations. We’re delighted that in these cabinets we have a veritable history from Jesse Owens through to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. I’m delighted that yet again the athletes have been so generous in their donation. These athletes know if we don’t preserve our history we’re going to have an uncertain future."
Accompanying Coe was David Rudisha from Kenya, a World Athletics Ambassador, and – like Coe – a world record-setter at 800m as well as a two-time champion at both the Olympics and World Championships. Guests at the presentation included three World Athletics Council Members, Nataliia Dobrynska from Ukraine, Sylvia Barlag from the Netherlands, and Nan Wang from China.
The following were recognised for making contributions to the MOWA collection:
Dan O’Brien, 1996 Olympic and three-time world decathlon champion and world record-breaker from the United States. He presented his singlet and bib from the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, his first global title. “I love that they’re putting this museum together,” said O’Brien. “Even more significant than an Olympic gold medal, the World Championships were the events that shaped me the most. I say that because at the Olympic Games there are people who don’t know track and field that are watching you, but at the World Championships it’s all your sport and you’re getting the attention from your peers.”
Matej Toth, Slovakia’s 2015 world and 2016 Olympic champion in the 50km race walk. Toth gave his vest and bib from 2015 and his bib from the 2019 World Championships. “It’s a big honour to me,” said Toth. “When I saw all the singlets and shoes, it was a big moment for me and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
Sylvia Barlag, who set a world best in the heptathlon in 1979. Barlag gave her winner’s plaque and spikes from the competition. Barlag looked back, saying: “I never thought that it would be something special, because when you do such a performance you just think you’re doing your sport. Then later when you know you were the first one to set a mark in the event – that’s special to me. I never realised it at that time.”
Nataliia Dobrynska, 2008 Olympic heptathlon gold medallist and 2012 world indoor pentathlon champion explained: “I’m very happy to be here, because I feel myself some little part of this big family. Council Member is my new sports career, and I want to be useful and do something special.”
World Athletics Council Member Nan Wang represented four donors to the museum from Chinese athletes. She explained: “I am very happy to be here representing the four athletes who have made donations. We think that MOWA is very meaningful. There are a lot of young kids here so it is very helpful to promote athletics.”
The four Chinese athletes are:
Gong Lijiao, two-time world and 2021 Olympic champion in the shot put; donated the singlet from her 2019 World Championships win;
Liu Hong, 2016 Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion in the 20km race walk; donated her singlet and shoes from her 2019 World Championships win in Doha;
Wang Jianan, world long jump champion in Oregon last year; gave his spikes from the Tokyo Olympic Games;
Liu Xiang, 2007 world and 2004 Olympic champion and world record-setter in the 110m hurdles; donated his left shoe from the 2011 World Championships.
Following the planned conclusion of today’s event came the unannounced surprise presentation from Holloway, only two days after his hurdles win.
Holloway presented this year’s singlet and bib, one shoe, and the US flag he draped upon his shoulders following his race. Expressing his pleasure to be included in the museum, he said: “It’s great to be a part of history forever. I’m used to going to these history museums and just seeing history but to actually be a part of history that I love is remarkable.”
Dave Johnson for World Athletics Heritage
