Charlton donates world record singlet and bib to Museum of World Athletics
TO MARK the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24, Devynne Charlton has donated to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) her Bahamian team singlet and name bib from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow. There she lowered her 60m hurdles world record to 7.65 when securing her first global title.
The 28-year-old Charlton, who stunned many when she sped to her first world record (7.67) in New York on 11 February, got away superbly in the 60m hurdles final in Glasgow. She was never seriously threatened, finishing clear of France’s defending champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela. Charlton had taken the silver behind the French athlete in Belgrade two years before.
Charlton, who is competing in the 4x100m this weekend (4-5 May), handed over her Glasgow top to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at the official press conference staged infield at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.
“Charlton’s near faultless final in Glasgow was one of two world records during a standout evening session,” said Coe. “On behalf of the Museum of World Athletics, I gratefully thank Charlton for her generous donation, which perfectly embodies her exceptional indoor season.
“In an Olympic year, it is worth reflecting that Charlton’s singlet joins an artefact of a sprint hurdling legend in the MOWA. Our museum’s collection holds the embroidered ‘Nederland’ badge which Fanny Blankers-Koen wore when winning the Olympic 80m hurdles gold, one of four victories achieved by ‘The Flying Dutchwoman’ at the London 1948 Olympic Games.”
Charlton commented: “I am very happy to present my world indoor championship winning singlet and bib to the Museum of World Athletics. I will be excited to see them displayed online in 3D and exhibited around the world. I hope they help inspire future athletes and fans about the excitement of athletics.
“It is a great honour to have my achievements recognised in the museum alongside those of many all-time greats, whose careers I dream to emulate as I fulfil my track ambitions.”
Charlton’s World Athletics Indoor Championships winning kit will also sit with the shoes and clothing of two other world indoor 60m hurdles champions in the Heritage Collection of the MOWA.
Olympic champions Gail Devers of USA and Sally Pearson of Australia, respectively world indoor 60m hurdles champions in Birmingham 2003 and Istanbul
2012, donated their singlets, bib numbers and running spikes to the MOWA from their 2004 (60m gold, 60m hurdles silver) and 2014 (60m hurdles silver) world indoor campaigns.
Charlton’s early career was beset by a serious back injury. Now back to full fitness, the Purdue University alumnus has in recent years begun to fulfil her immense promise. Silver at the 2022 World Indoor Championships was followed outdoors at 100m hurdles with Commonwealth Games silver and last summer a fourth place at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Charlton’s indoor form this season would signal an improvement to her
Tokyo Olympic Games sixth place is likely this year in Paris.