Severe rainstorm doesn’t stop track & road running stars gathering for MOWA Ceremony in New York – World Athletics

Dear friends of MOWA, 30 October 2025 – More than a dozen star athletes from the past six decades of track and road running have been arriving in a biblical rainstorm today in New York City ahead of Friday evening’s MOWA Donation Ceremony in the prestigious New York Athletic Club (NYAC).

The heavy rain which caused numerous flights to be diverted or cancelled across the city’s airports was compounded by a runway incident at JFK which closed the airport for more than an hour.

Sadly, we have lost one generous donor from tomorrow’s roster due to tragically worse climatic conditions elsewhere. USA’s 2008 Olympic 100m hurdles champion Dawn Harper Nelson and her husband Alonzo are safe but stranded on the devastated island of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. Her donation of her 2012 Olympic silver medal singlet & bib will be rearranged for another MOWA ceremony.

Founded in 1868, the NYAC proudly boasts a hall of fame of members who have won a total of 321 Olympic medals across all sports including the four gold medals won by the legend Al Oerter in the discus throw.

On Friday, World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon and MOWA Founding Patron Michael H. Burke look forward to welcoming the following illustrious champions and world record breakers to the NYAC, one of the most prestigious sports clubs in the world, to make donations of apparel, medals and trophies to the museum’s collection.

• Joan Benoit Samuelson, 1984 Olympic Marathon & 2-time Boston Marathon champion and 1985 Chicago Marathon winner.
• Deena Kastor, 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medallist, London & Chicago Marathon winner.
• Rosa Mota, 1987 World and 1988 Olympic Marathon champion, 3-time Boston Marathon winner, & 3-time European champion.
• Kathrine Switzer, winner of the 1974 New York Marathon, and the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor.
• Curt Clausen, 1999 World 50km race walk bronze medallist.
• Bill Rodgers, 4-times Boston and 4-times New York Marathon winner.
• Frank O’Mara, 2-time World Indoor 1500m champion.
• Marcus O’Sullivan, 3-time World Indoor 1500m champion – represented by Ray Flynn.
• Jim Spivey, 1987 World 1500m bronze medallist.
• Victor Roethlin, 2007 World Marathon bronze & 2010 European champion.
• Dave Wottle, 1972 Olympic 800m champion.

As well as these 11 new donors, the ceremony will welcome another four athletes whose donations to MOWA were announced in previous years BUT who have never had the opportunity to officially present their artefacts. They are…

• 2021 – Jacqueline Hansen, twice world marathon record breaker.
• 2021 – Grete Waitz, inaugural world marathon champion, 9-time NYC marathon winner. Hers was a posthumous donation made by her husband & coach Jack Waitz.
• 2023 – Orlando Pizzolato, two-time NYC Marathon champion.
• 2024 – Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon champion.

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