Track Samples from the 1984 Summer Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, California
date: label: date made
content: 1984
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: One large triangle shaped and two rectangular shaped track samples with a waffle surface. Each piece is red on one side and black on the other. These synthetic track pieces were taken from the various tracks at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, California.
label: Description (Brief)
content: These samples were maufactured by the 3M company, the first manufacturer of synthetic polyurethane tracks. This first generation all weather track material was the first of it's kind, created in the late 1960s and early 1970s and branded Tartan Turf. This name created by 3M to continue the Scottich branding their company embraced became synonomous with artifical tracks and turf in the 1970s. Olympic athletes Bill Neider and Don Bowden were intrumental in developing and selling this track material to be included in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Prior to this material, tracks consisted of cinder and was hard and unforgiving. The new synthetic material had some give to it which ultimately led to fewer injuries and innovations in footwear.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The 1984 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad were held in Los Angeles, California with 140 countries participating. These Games were boycotted by fourteen countries, including the Soviet Union because of America’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. American Carl Lewis won four gold medals in track and field while Joan Benoit won gold for the U.S. in the first women’s marathon. Mary Lou Retton dominated women’s gymnastics becoming the first American to win the gymnastics all-around competition and the American men won the gold in the gymnastics team competition. With the addition of women’s only events of rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming and the addition of women’s events in track and field, shooting and cycling, women athletes were just beginning to see results from Title IX legislation of twelve years prior. The United States won the medal count with 174.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: associated place
content: United States: California, Los Angeles
topic: label: web subject
content: Sports
label: name of sport
content: Olympics
label: level of sport
content: Amateur
label: Subject
content: Track and Field
label: related event
content: Olympic Summer Games: Los Angeles, 1984
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (through Carol Daniels)
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0297.16
label: accession number
content: 1985.0297
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0297.16
objectType: label: Object Name
content: track samples
label: Object Name
content: track samples, olympics
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: black (sample color)
label: Physical Description
content: red (sample color)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (sample material)
label: Physical Description
content: rectangle (overall shape)
label: Physical Description
content: triangle (overall shape)
label: Measurements
content: overall (largest piece): 10 in x 4 in; 25.4 cm x 10.16 cm