In a 1968 Olympic Games marked by tremendous athletic feats rooted in racial controversy African-American sprinter Jim Hines won the gold medal in the prestigious 100 Meter dash to earn the title of "World's Fastest Man." He also set the world record by becoming the first to break 10 seconds and he did so at the highest altitude for a Summer Olympics before or since. The Mexico City Games have long been linked to Hines' U.S. teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos whose gold and bronze medals in the 200 Meter Final prompted their controversial Black Power salute on the podium. Faced with the same racial tension at home and at the Games Hines performed masterfully. He glided to gold medal glory in the 100 Meter final with an official time of 9.95. As the fastest legal electronically-timed 100 meters to date Hines' mark at the Olympics was recognized exclusively as the new world record and it stood for 15 years. Later at the same 1968 Games Hines won his second gold medal in the 4 x 100 Meter Relay when he anchored the U.S. team to a blazing time of 38.24 seconds setting another world record. Following the Olympics Hines played parts of two seasons in the NFL for the Dolphins and Chiefs as a wide receiver. He was recently inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Here's your chance to bid on the actual Adidas spikes worn by Jim Hines for both of his historic gold medal performances in Mexico City. The 'Adidas Special' brand spikes made of lightweight kangaroo leather come in a gold tint with black Adidas logo stripes. The original black laces are intact as are the six slightly dulled 3/8" granite steel spikes screwed into the bottom of the sole. Adidas custom-designed the spike plates and number of spikes they hold to Hines' liking. The shoes show appropriate wear and aside from a tiny hole in the leather sole of the right shoe both spikes have been remarkably well-preserved thanks to bronzed shoehorns lining the interior of each. Hines has autographed and inscribed each shoe with "Mexico '68'" on the bottom white spike plate in impeccable 10/10 black marker. Also included is a spectacular 33" by 26" framed color Adidas photographic advertisement in good condition picturing Hines hitting the tape to win 100 Meter gold in these very shoes.

Comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Jim Hines which has also been notarized.

Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.