September 29 Birthdays

1951
Nina Holmén, Finland, distance runner. Siv Nina Anette Holmén was a silver medalist at the World Cross Country Championships in 1974, the same year that she won a gold medal at the European Championships in the women's 3,000m. Unfortunately for Holmén and other female long-distance runners, the Olympics had no women's events longer than 1,500m. Holmén did compete for Finland in the 1,500m at the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games, where she placed ninth.

1957
Harald Schmid, West Germany, hurdler. Schmid was one of the world's top 400m hurdler, but unfortunately at the same time that Edwin Moses was indisputable the best 400m hurdler in the world, winning 122 races in a row. Nevertheless, Schmid did win a silver medal in the men's 400m hurdles at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships, a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 (Los Angeles) Olympic Games, and a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 1987 (Rome) World Championships. He was also a three-time gold medalist in the 400m hurdles at the European Championships--and event that was closed to Moses, an American.