Eddie Tolan, famously known as the “Midnight Express,” was an American track and field athlete who won two gold medals in the Olympics and became the first non-Euro-American to receive the title of the “world’s fastest human.”
The late Eddie Tolan was not just a typical Olympic sprinter. While he made history on the track with world records, what truly made him unforgettable were his distinctive habits of chewing gum and wearing taped glasses during races.
Standing at just 5’6”, Tolan’s small frame belied his incredible speed. But it wasn’t just his physique that caught the eye of viewers.
He ran with a bandage on his left knee to protect an old injury, horn-rimmed glasses taped securely to the side of his head, and a mouthful of chewing gum that became as much a part of his identity as his sprinting prowess.
Tolan discovered early in his career that chewing gum helped him manage race-day stress.
Accidentally chewing gum while sprinting, he noticed that the motion synchronized with his stride.
Soon, it became an essential part of his racing technique. The faster he chewed, the quicker his legs moved, a weird but effective way to maintain his pace.
His taped glasses were equally iconic. Unlike most athletes who relied on contacts or ran without eyewear, Tolan insisted on keeping his horn-rimmed glasses firmly in place.
Using tape to secure them, he ensured they would not shift during his sprints.
Eddie Tolan’s Taped Glasses and Chewing Gum Became His Olympic Signature
The combination of Eddie Tolan’s taped glasses and chewing gum became legendary at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
On August 3, in the 100-meter dash, Tolan crossed the finish line in a photo finish, setting a new Olympic record of 10.3 seconds and securing the gold medal.
Fans were amazed at how he chewed gum in rhythm with his stride and wore taped glasses while running, turning these little habits into a worldwide symbol of his unique style and skill in track.
Tolan continued to innovate his approach to sprinting, winning both amateur and professional world sprint championships and finishing his career with an outstanding record of 300 wins in 307 races.
Eddie Tolan passed away in 1967 at the untimely age of 58 at Detroit’s Mt. Carmel Hospital, from heart failure while undergoing one of his weekly treatments.
Similarly, Eddie Tolan, who attended the University of Michigan and broke several world sprint championship records and Big Ten conference records, was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1980.
He was also inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1958 and the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1982.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Thomas Edward Tolan was born on September 29, 1908, in Denver, Colorado, as one of four children.
- He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where he excelled in both football and sprinting.
- Tolan was one of the athletes honored in 1936 for Champions Day in Detroit, Michigan.
