Explore Black History

1979

Three framed medals awarded to Carl Lewis. The medals are housed in a large metal gold-painted frame. Each medal sits in a cut out space from a red cloth background, bearing a plaque describing the event beneath it. At the center bottom of the display is an engraved plaque that reads [CARL LEWIS / FIRST INTERNATIONAL / MEDALS].
On the left is a gold medal won for the 4x200 meter relay at the Moscow Spartakiade, 1979. The obverse of the medal features a female figure standing in front of a male figure, both are in left profile and lean dramatically forward with their left leg raised and their arms stuck out behind them. The numeral [VII] appears in relief below their knees. Three swooping lines terminating in a star appear behind them. The piece of metal which attaches the medal to the red ribbon is decorated with a leaf design as well as Cyrillic letters.
In the center is a bronze medal for long jump won at the 1979 Pan American games in Puerto Rico. The obverse of the medal features a running male figure in right profile carrying a flaming torch. The flames of the torch extend to a series of concentric circles which appear behind the figure. On either side of the runner are brick or stone walls rising from a sea, above which he is suspended. Type appears along the upper and lower edge of the medal. The attached ribbon is colored with green, yellow, white, blue, and purple stripes.
On the right is a bronze medal won for the long jump at the Moscow Spartakiade, 1979. The obverse of the medal is decorated exactly the same as the gold medal. The piece of metal which attached the medal to the green ribbon is decorated, however, with the numeral [III].

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Awards, Medals, and Insignia

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Carl Lewis Estate

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2013.126.10

medals

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wood, glass, metal, cloth, gold, bronze, ribbon

Frame: 38 3/4 x 25 1/8 x 1 5/8 in. (98.4 x 63.8 x 4.1 cm)
H x W (Spartakiade Relay Medal): 19 1/2 x 2 in. (49.5 x 5.1 cm)
H x W (Pan American Games Medal): 19 5/8 x 2 5/8 in. (49.8 x 6.7 cm)
H x W (Spartakiade Long Jump Medal): 19 1/2 x 2 in. (49.5 x 5.1 cm)
H x W (Medal Plaques, Each): 1 1/4 x 3 in. (3.2 x 7.6 cm)
H x W (Carl Lewis Plaque): 2 1/2 x 3 15/16 in. (6.3 x 10 cm)

Object Name • Three framed medals won by Carl Lewis in Spartakiad and Pan American Games

nmaahc_2013.126.10

NMAAHC

THREE FRAMED MEDALS WON BY CARL LEWIS IN SPARTAKIAD AND PAN AMERICAN GAMES

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Lewis, Carl • Pan American Sports Organization

San Juan • Puerto Rico • Asia • United States • North and Central America • Caribbean • Moscow • Russia • Latin America

Track and field • Men • Athletes • Sports

City • Moscow • Country • Russia • Continent • Asia • City • San Juan • State • Puerto Rico • Country • United States • Subregion • Caribbean • Region • Latin America • Continent • North and Central America

No Known Copyright Restrictions