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Women in Sports
Thanks to all these women that were courageous and believed in their dreams, we women, now have opportunities to excel in every sport. -
Elenora R. Sears
Gender barrier-breaker, aka Eleo. She is the great-grand daughter of Thomas Jefferson. In 1911 began to play tennis competitively. She won the U.S. women's doubles championship. Over the next five years she won four more doubles championships. -
Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias
She is particularly known for breaking ground in woman's golf. Mildred started playing baseball with neighborhood boys and hitting home runs, where she picked up the nickname "Babe" after Babe Ruth. While she was in the athletic program at Employers Casualty Company in Dallas she was honored "All-American" every year. In 1932 at the age of 21 she won two gold medals and one silver for track and field. Gold in the javelin throw and the 80 meter hurdles and silver for the high-jump. -
Alice Coachman
In 1948, 25 years old, she became the first African-American to win a gold medal at the Olympics. This created a path for black female athletes to reach for the gold.
Due to segregation she had to find ways to train, even if that meant running and jumping barefoot on dirt roads and playgrounds. -
Janet Guthrie
She was the first woman to drive in the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. In 1977 she ran the Indy 500 thanks to an owner Rolla Vollsted. This was the most prestigious event in American auto racing. Her ninth finish in 1978 was the highest at the Indy 500 until 2005. -
Wilma Rudolph
Wilma is the twentieth child of twenty one childres. She battled with polio until the age of 12. Wilma walked normally and decided to become an athlete. While in school she played basketball and earned a scholarship to Tennessee State University. In 1956, she won a bronze medal for the 4x4 relay. In the 1960 Olympics she was the first woman to win three gold medal. In the 100 meter-dash, 200 meter-dash, and ran anchor for the 400 meter relay team. -
Rosemary Casals
1970 US Open
She made a great impact for woman in tennis. Despite her being five foot two, she discovered her natural ability in tennis. She fought for woman's monetary prizes to be equal to men's and for media coverage. -
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Long Jump
She was recognized as the greatest woman athlete of the twentieth century. Jackie excelled in basketball, volleyball, and track. She earned an athletic schoalrship to University of Central Los Angeles. In 1984, she won three gold medals, setting the women's record for the heptathlon. In 1996, played women's professional basketball for Richmond Rage. -
April Heinrichs
Born in Denver, Colorado. She played soccer at University of North Carolina, She was named National Player of the year twiceShe was part of the first group of players to be in United States Women's National Soccer Team. In 1991 she was the captain of USA when they won their first FIFA's Women World Cup.She finished her international playing carreer with 48 caps and 38 goals. -
Marla Runyan
At the age of nine she developed Stargardt's disease, form of macular degeneration, left her legally blind. Despite the effect of this disease she retianed her peipheral vision. While attending San Diego State University she began competing in several athletic events such as, the heptathlon, 200 meter-dash, high jump, shot put, 100 meter hurdle, long jump, javelin throw, and 800 meter run. In 1999 she began her mark as a world class runner. She hold several records for various running events. -
Title IX
Best known for its impacts on high school and collegiate athletes. This helped girls and women finally have equal access to sport, fitness, and physcial education opportunities. This eventually became known as the women's movement.
