01

June 2012

Entertainment & Culture

/ Sports

[PHOTOS] TEAM USA! Black Sports Icons

THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES ARE UPON US, EBONY LOOKS BACK ON THE BLACK ATHLETES WHO WENT FOR THE WIN — AND CHANGED THE GAME

[PHOTOS] TEAM USA! Black Sports Icons

George Poage Poage made history as the first African American to win any kind of Olympic medal during the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis. He won two bronze medals for the 200 and 400 meter hurdles

John Baxter This athlete was the first African American to win an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the US relay team in the London games of 1908

William DeHart Hubbard Hubbard was the first African American to win a gold medal in an individual game for the Long Jump during the 1924 Olympic Summer Games in Paris

Jesse Owens This athlete rose to international fame when he won four gold medals during the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany - one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team

Alice Coachman Coachman was the first African American woman to win a gold medal during an Olympic Game in 1948 for the high jump. She was the only woman from the US to win a gold medal that year

Donald Barksdale Barksdale in 1948 became the first African American to play on a Team USA basketball team during the Olympics and win a gold medal

Althea Gibson While Gibson didn’t compete in the Olympics, she was the first African American woman to compete in The World Tennis Tour, win the French Open and Wimbledon both in the 50s

Bill Russell Russell almost didn’t participate in the 1956 Olympics when there was controversy over his alleged signing of an NBA contract prior to the Olympics. Still, as captain, he led Team USA to a gold medal in Australia

Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali Ali is probably one of the most important athletes that the world has ever known. His winning the gold medal for light-heavyweight boxing in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome was easy

Wilma Rudolph Rudolph was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 when she competed and won the gold medal during the Summer Olympics in Rome.Wilma Rudolph Rudolph was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 when she competed and won the gold medal during the Summer Olympics in Rome

Tommie Smith Smith is probably more known for the black power salute that he gave when winning the gold medal in 1968 Summer Olympics than for winning the actual medal for the 200-meter dash

Ruth White In 1972, Ruth White competed in the individual and team fencing events at the Olympic Games in Germany. She was one of a few women of color to compete in fencing events

Peter Westbrook Westbrook won the bronze medal during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in California for Fencing

Greg Gibson This athlete won the silver medal during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in California for weightlifting as the first Greco-Roman wrestler

Nelson Vails Vails was the first African American bicycler to get any kind of medal in this even winning the silver medal in the sprints during the 1984 Summer Olympics in California

Florence “FloJo” Griffith Joyner FloJo – as she was called won three gold medals during the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea. Her records in the 100 meter and 200 meter distances have yet to be broken

Jackie Joyner-Kersee Kersee won in the heptathlon in 1988 and 1992 taking home gold medals making her the first athlete to do so in her event back to back

Michael Jordan In 1992, Jordan led the “dream team” in the Olympic Games in Spain. The team included: Larry Bird, David Robinson, and Magic Johnson – and they won the gold with Jordan averaging 14.9 points

Dominique Dawes Dawes won the bronze medal for her floor routine during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She was the first African American to win an individual event for gymnastics

Vonetta Flowers Flowers was the first African American to win a gold medal during a Winter Olympics event in 2002 when she won for bobsledding in Utah

Shani Davis Davis holds a gold Olympic medal for the 2006 Olympic Games in Italy for the 1000m speed skating event. He was the first African American athlete to take home an individual title in this event

George Poage Poage made history as the first African American to win any kind of Olympic medal during the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis. He won two bronze medals for the 200 and 400 meter hurdles

John Baxter This athlete was the first African American to win an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of the US relay team in the London games of 1908

William DeHart Hubbard Hubbard was the first African American to win a gold medal in an individual game for the Long Jump during the 1924 Olympic Summer Games in Paris

Jesse Owens This athlete rose to international fame when he won four gold medals during the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany - one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team

Alice Coachman Coachman was the first African American woman to win a gold medal during an Olympic Game in 1948 for the high jump. She was the only woman from the US to win a gold medal that year

Donald Barksdale Barksdale in 1948 became the first African American to play on a Team USA basketball team during the Olympics and win a gold medal

Althea Gibson While Gibson didn’t compete in the Olympics, she was the first African American woman to compete in The World Tennis Tour, win the French Open and Wimbledon both in the 50s

Bill Russell Russell almost didn’t participate in the 1956 Olympics when there was controversy over his alleged signing of an NBA contract prior to the Olympics. Still, as captain, he led Team USA to a gold medal in Australia

Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali Ali is probably one of the most important athletes that the world has ever known. His winning the gold medal for light-heavyweight boxing in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome was easy

Wilma Rudolph Rudolph was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 when she competed and won the gold medal during the Summer Olympics in Rome.Wilma Rudolph Rudolph was the fastest woman in the world in 1960 when she competed and won the gold medal during the Summer Olympics in Rome

Tommie Smith Smith is probably more known for the black power salute that he gave when winning the gold medal in 1968 Summer Olympics than for winning the actual medal for the 200-meter dash

Ruth White In 1972, Ruth White competed in the individual and team fencing events at the Olympic Games in Germany. She was one of a few women of color to compete in fencing events

Peter Westbrook Westbrook won the bronze medal during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in California for Fencing

Greg Gibson This athlete won the silver medal during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in California for weightlifting as the first Greco-Roman wrestler

Nelson Vails Vails was the first African American bicycler to get any kind of medal in this even winning the silver medal in the sprints during the 1984 Summer Olympics in California

Florence “FloJo” Griffith Joyner FloJo – as she was called won three gold medals during the 1988 Olympic Games in Korea. Her records in the 100 meter and 200 meter distances have yet to be broken

Jackie Joyner-Kersee Kersee won in the heptathlon in 1988 and 1992 taking home gold medals making her the first athlete to do so in her event back to back

Michael Jordan In 1992, Jordan led the “dream team” in the Olympic Games in Spain. The team included: Larry Bird, David Robinson, and Magic Johnson – and they won the gold with Jordan averaging 14.9 points

Dominique Dawes Dawes won the bronze medal for her floor routine during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She was the first African American to win an individual event for gymnastics

Vonetta Flowers Flowers was the first African American to win a gold medal during a Winter Olympics event in 2002 when she won for bobsledding in Utah

Shani Davis Davis holds a gold Olympic medal for the 2006 Olympic Games in Italy for the 1000m speed skating event. He was the first African American athlete to take home an individual title in this event

More Ebony

Olympians Honored in London

Black Olympians Given Subway Stops

ncaa graduation rates improve

Graduation Rates for Black Athletes Improve

black male athletes lagging behind

Weak Graduation Rates for Black Male College Athletes

[WATCH] HBO Films Chad Johnson Firing

[WATCH] HBO Films Chad Johnson Firing

Share THIS on twitter with #Ebony hashtags.

Stay in the Know

Sign up for the EBONY Newsletter