January 11, 1948 Madeline Manning, hall of fame track and field athlete, author, and speaker, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Manning ran track at Tennessee State University where she won ten national titles, set a number of American records, and graduated in 1972. She participated in the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Summer Olympic Games. At [...]
Tag Archives | Gold Medal
February 29th in African American History – Cullen Jones
February 29, 1984 Cullen Jones, Olympic Gold medal winning freestyle sprint swimmer, was born in New York City, but grew up in Irvington, New Jersey. Jones learned to swim after he nearly drowned when he was five years old. He turned professional in 2006 and swam a leg in the world record breaking 4 by [...]
February 12th in African American History – William Felton “Bill” Russell
February 12, 1934 William Felton “Bill” Russell, hall of fame basketball player and author, was born West Monroe, Louisiana, but raised in Oakland, California. Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956 and also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956.
January 10th in African American History – Chandra Danette Cheeseborough
January 10, 1959 Chandra Danette Cheeseborough, hall of fame track and field athlete, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Cheeseborough broke onto the international track scene at the age of 16 by winning two Gold medals at the 1975 Pan American Games. In 1976, she set the American junior record in the 100-meter race.
December 21st in African American History – Florence Delorez “Flo-Jo” Griffith-Joyner
December 21, 1959 Florence Delorez “Flo-Jo” Griffith-Joyner, hall of fame track and field athlete, was born in Los Angeles, California. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Griffith-Joyner won the Silver medal in the 200 meter race and at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games she won the Gold medal in the 100 and 200 meter [...]
December 8th in African American History – Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon
December 8, 1965 Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Pineland, Texas. Weatherspoon played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University where she was a two-time All-American. In 1988, she led the team to the NCAA national title and won the Margaret Wade Trophy as the top female basketball player in the [...]
November 11th in African American History – Rodney Milburn, Jr.
November 11, 1997 Rodney Milburn, Jr., hall of fame track and field athlete, died. Milburn was born May 18, 1950 in Opelousas, Louisiana. He attended Southern University and during the early 1970s dominated the 110 meter hurdles, tying the world record three times. In 1971, he was unbeaten in 28 races and was named the [...]