Eddie Hart, Olympic gold medalist and “World’s Fastest Human”, is renowned for both his athletic excellence and his lifelong dedication to serving East Bay youth. The favorite to win the 100-meter gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Hart had equaled the world record of 9.9 seconds at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Despite being disqualified from his signature event due to an unfortunate coaching scheduling error, he displayed remarkable resilience and character by returning to anchor the U.S. 4×100-meter relay team, securing Olympic gold in world-record time.

Hart’s rise began at Pittsburg High and Contra Costa College, where he won the 100-and 200-yard dashes at the California Junior College State Meet. He later transferred to the University of California, Berkeley, where he captured NCAA titles in the 100-yard dash and the 4×110-Yard relay in 1970. His achievements alongside teammate Isaac Curtis remain a historic chapter in Cal track and field history After retiring from open competition, Hart returned to the sport in the master’s division, winning world championships in both the 100 and 200 meters. He also set a world record in the 100 meters that stood for 14 years. Born in Martinez and raised in Pittsburg, California, Hart co-founded the Eddie Hart All In One Foundation in 2003 with his wife Gwen and son Eddie Jr., mentoring disadvantaged youth through sports, music, and education. In 2024, he was honored as a Hometown Hero by the City of Pittsburg. Eddie and Gwen have been married for fifty-two years. He is the proud father of Paris and Eddie Jr., and the grandfather of Eddie III, James, and Bella.