Alice Coachman

Alice Coachman (born November 9, 1923 in Albany, Georgia) was the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

Related Topics:
November 9 - 1923

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coachman dominated the AAU outdoor high jump championship from 1939 through 1948, but was unable to compete in the Olympics as they were cancelled in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II.

Related Topics:
AAU - High jump - Olympics - World War II

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the high jump finals of the 1948 Summer Olympics, Coachman leaped 5 feet 6 1/8 inches (1.68 m) on her first try. Her nearest rival, Great Britain's Dorothy Tyler, matched Coachman's jump, but only on her second try. Coachman was the only American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in 1948.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coachman also excelled in the indoor and outdoor 50-meter dash and the outdoor 100-meter dash. Representing Tuskegee Institute, Coachman also ran on the national champion 4 x 4 100-meter relay team in 1941 and 1942.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~