Important Olympic Figures

Gabby is a gymnast and was the first woman to win individual all-around and team gold medals in the same game. This happened in 2012, and just 4 years later in 2-016, she was part of the “Final Five” group winning team gold.

It was 2006 when Shani Davis became the first African-American athlete to win a gold medal in an individual event at the Winter Olympic Games. Not only did he win the gold medal, he won a silver medal in the 1500 meter speed skating competition, and four years later, returned to defend his Olympic title for the 1000-meter. He was successful. ...

Ibtihaj Muhammad was the first woman to wear a hijab and represent the United States in the Olympics, and on top of that accomplishing feat, earned a bronze medal in the Women’s Individual Sabre.

In 1948, Alice Coachman became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field. She set a world record in the high jump event.

Constantin played Rugby, and in 1900, he became the first black athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Henriquez is also known as the first Black athlete to compete in a modern Olympic tournament, and later, became the president of the Haitian Olympic Committee in 1906 and 1912.

Paige McPherson is the first American woman to have competed in the Olympics for taekwondo, and won bronze in 2021.

Biles is an Olympic gold gymnast making history in 2020 at the Tokyo Games. She has won seven medals, including four golds.