Eddie Tolan (1980) - University of Michigan Hall of Honor

Eddie Tolan

Induction:
1980

Eddie ToIan was a native of Denver, Colorado, and the king of U.S. sprinting from 1929-31. On May 25, 1929, "The Midnight Express" was the first man in the world to be officially credited with a time of 9.5 seconds for 100 yards. As a member of the Michigan track team, ToIan won races at the Big Ten Meet four times, including two wins in the 100-yard dash. Tolan further entrenched himself as the best sprinter in the land with a win in the 200 at the 1931 NCAA meet. By 1932, ToIan dropped to the second best in the land. The new title holder was Marquette's George Metcalfe, a man who went undefeated during the 1932 season. In the Olympic trials at 100 meters, Metcalfe beat Tolan and although both were headed to the Summer Games in Los Angeles, Metcalfe was the heavy favorite. When the 100-meter preliminary heats were run, Tolan notched his first win over his rival, setting an Olympic-record of 10.4. When the final came, ToIan grabbed the lead at 40 meters, but Metcalfe drew even with him, and the two finished in a dead heat. Many had no idea who won, and in prior Olympic games, a controversy may have resulted. However, these games featured the first use of a photo-finish camera. Judges spent hours viewing films, determining that ToIan had crossed the finish line first by one inch, in an Olympic record 10.3 seconds. To stake Michigan's claim as the only university to have three double-event gold medalists in the sprints, Tolan still had to win the 200-meter event. Victory did not come easy, as Archie Hahn's 28-year-old Olympic record was bettered four times in the prelims. Meanwhile, Tolan just qualified for the final by barely finishing third in the last heat. When the pressure of the final was on, Tolan performed beautifully. He surged ahead at the 150-meter mark and then withstood a brief stumble toward the finish for an Olympic-record 21.2 seconds. Tolan's finish led a medal sweep for the Americans in the event.