Alice Coachman

About

Best known as the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, she took gold in the high jump at the 1948 Olympics.

Before Fame

She was a stellar youth athlete, who had great success at the AAU level. Having grown up in the South during segregation, she had been denied opportunities to train for or compete in organized sports events, so instead took to improvising in her training by running barefoot in fields and on dirt roads. 

Trivia

She won an Olympic gold despite missing her prime, as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II. She went on to support young athletes and older, retired Olympic veterans through the Alice Coachman Track and Field Foundation. 

Family Life

She was born in Albany, Georgia.

Associated With

She is credited with paving the way for female African-American Olympians such as Marion Jones.