Manufactured by
Adidas AG, German, founded 1948
Zipp, German
Worn by
Tyus, Wyomia, American, born 1945
Date
1968
Medium
polyester , cotton (textile) , thread , plastic and metal
Dimensions
H x W (2017.52.3.1): 27 3/4 × 23 5/8 in. (70.5 × 60 cm)
H x W (2017.52.3.2): 35 13/16 × 20 3/8 in. (91 × 51.8 cm)
Description
A Team USA white Olympic sweat suit worn by Wyomia Tyus during the 1968 XIX Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. The warm-up suit is made by Adidas and includes a jacket and sweatpants.
2017.52.3.1:
A warm-up sweat suit jacket worn by Wyomia Tyus during the 1968 Mexico XIX Olympics. The jacket is predominantly off white with red and blue trim. The jacket has a spread collar and a Zipp, white colored metal zipper at the neckline. The cuffs and the bottom of the jacket are ribbed. Vertical red, white, and blue stripes run down the outer side of the sleeves ending at the cuff. At the proper left breast is a white patch with stitched text that reads [MEXICO 68]. The word [MEXICO] is stitched with three (3) rows of red thread and [68] is stitched with yellow, green, blue, and black thread and is overlaid with the Olympic rings. The back of the jacket has large fabric, dark blue letters [USA] held in place with blue thread. There are two red stars in between the letters held in place with red thread. There is a blue and white tag sewn inside the sweatshirt on the back collar. The large, rectangular, manufacturer’s tag in the center has white, black, and blue text that reads [adidas / DIE MARKE MIT DEN / 3 STREIFEN / GROSSE 3].
2017.52.3.2:
Warm-up sweatpants worn by Wyomia Tyus during the 1968 Mexico XIX Olympics. The sweatpants are predominantly off white, with red, white, and blue vertical stripes running down the outer side of each pant leg. The sweatpants have a cinched elastic waistband and are cinched at the ankles as well. There are zippers going up the pant leg along the outer stripes. It goes around 6 inches up the leg starting at the ankle. There are two front pockets with Zipp zipper. And next to the pocket on the on the proper left pant leg is a small blue label with white text that reads [adidas]. Attached to the waistband is a small white tag with the number [3] printed in red ink and a plastic fabric fastener attached to a faded paper tag attached to a seam.
Place used
Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Latin America, North and Central America
Place made
Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany, Europe
Classification
Clothing-Historical
Type
sweat pants
sweat shirts
sports uniforms
Topic
Activism
Athletes
Black power
Civil rights
Clothing and dress
Olympics
Sports
Track and field
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Wyomia Tyus
Object number
2017.52.3.1-.2
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5bd460b4f-5668-43b5-a7f0-d693404f6b9e

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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