Jarmila Kratochvilova (CZE) is the only woman ever to hold the 400m and 800m world records concurrently, and she won gold in those events in the inaugural World Championships, held in Helsinki in 1983.

Her 47.99 and 1:53.28 are astonishing times under any circumstances and by any measure. Her 800m  world record still stands and is the longest-standing of all track and field events. Her 400m world record was broken by East Germany's Marita Koch's 47.60 in 1985.

How did I come to get her autograph?