Skip to content

Sport: Track and Field

LeRoy Walker was the first Black American to coach a U.S. Olympic Team, guiding the men’s track and field team to six gold medals in the Montreal 1976 Olympics.
After an athletic career that included participating in the decathlon and pentathlon at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games, Avery Brundage started a business career. He later served as president of the American Olympic Association and then was president of the International Olympic Committee from 1952 to 1972.
Ed Temple built Tennessee State University women's track and field into a powerhouse. Forty of his athletes competed in the Olympics. He coached the 1960 and 1964 U.S. Olympic Women's Track Teams.
Frank Wykoff won gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay at three consecutive Olympic Games, the first athlete to accomplish that feat.
Mal Whitfield won gold in the 800-meter run and the 4x-400-meter relay at the London 1948 Olympic Games, becoming the first American active-duty service member to win an Olympic gold medal.
The first American woman to compete in five Olympic Games, Willye White won silver in long jump at the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games and the 4x100-meter relay at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.
Wyomia Tyus won the 100-meter dash gold medal at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. Four years later in Mexico City, she became the first person to repeat as Olympic gold medalist in the 100.
Despite a childhood injury that limited functionality in his right (throwing) hand, Bill Toomey set an Olympic record as he won a gold medal in the decathlon at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.
The first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S., Jim Thorpe won the pentathlon and decathlon at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games. He later played pro baseball and football.
At the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, Frank Shorter became the first American man in 64 years to win an Olympic marathon gold medal. He added a silver at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games.
SPONSORED BY