Then & now

Airman, June, 2004 by Mark Kinkade

For a brief moment in Los Angeles in 1984. Alonzo Babers basked in the world spotlight as a two-time track and field Olympic gold medal winner. But unlike other Olympic heroes who went on to be bask in the fading glow of the winner's light, he traded the notoriety and glory for a set of flight wings and a place in an Air Force cockpit.

The 1983 Air Force Academy graduate rose to fame in the 1984 summer Olympics when he ran the 400 meters in 44.27 seconds. Two days later, then-2nd Lt. Babers was part of the 4 x 400 relay team that also won the gold medal.

One month later, he reported for flight training, and later spent eight years on active duty flying C-141s and C-21s. He left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve, ultimately earning the rank of major.

Now he flies commercial aircraft and for three years has served as the academy liaison officer for the Baltimore, Md., area.