Georgia Olympians & Paralympians
Colonel Henry Cummings, Jr.
Academy of Richmond HS (Augusta)
Virginia Cavaliers
1928 Amsterdam Games
200m Dash Semi-Finalist
Henry did not complete HS in Georgia as our other Olympians recognized below did, but did attend The Academy of Richmond (now know as Richmond Academy) through his sophomore year at least until boarding at the prestigious Woodberry Forest School in Virginia before attending the University of Virginia. We feel he should be recognized for completing the majority of his scholastic years in Georgia. The pic to the right (courtesy of UVA Archives) is him running in a meet prior to the '28 Olympics.
Forrest "Spec" Towns
Richmond Academy HS
Georgia Bulldogs
1936 Berlin Games
110m Hurdles Gold
Lula Hymes
Booker T. Washington HS
(Atlanta)
Tuskeegee Golden Tigers
1940 Tokyo/Helsinki Games--Cancelled WWII
1944 London
Games--Cancelled WWII
1948 London Games--Elected not to compete
Lula celebrating her 91st birthday with teammate Alice Coachman & the 60th anniversary of her gold medal (courtesy of the Tuskegee News 2008)
America's Greatest Girl Track & Field Athlete--1940: What Might Have Been
Winning three national titles in 1937, Lula was on her way to becoming one of if not THE fastest women in the world.
She tied the world record in the 100m Dash in 1939 in a time of 11.5 and was the heavy favorite for the gold medal in the upcoming Olympic Games originally scheduled for Tokyo, then rescheduled for Helsinki and ultimately cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.
The Atlanta Constitution (now known as the AJC) named her "America's Greatest Girl Track & Field Athlete" in 1940.
She would not be able to compete in the 1944 London Games, either, also due to World War II.
A likely qualifier and medalist in the 1948 London Games at the age of 31, Lula elected to not compete anymore because she thought she was too old.
“Four or five of us would always try to beat Lula, but she was just so fast,” legendary teammate Alice Coachman said, dramatically emphasizing the word “fast” by slowing down the pronunciation and shaking her head in what looked to be utter disbelief. “She would come off those blocks like lightning. By the time I’d be ready to start, she’d already be five feet ahead of me.”
-Quote courtesy of the Tuskegee News
Lula was a lifelong Home Economics teacher and died in 2016 in Auburn, Georgia. Although she was never officially an Olympian, we feel that her legacy must be known and included in this group of athletes since it was out of her control.
Alice Coachman
Madison HS
(Monroe Comprehensive now)
Tuskeegee Golden Tigers
Albany State Golden Rams
1948 London Games
High Jump Gold
1st Black Female Gold Medalist in US History
26 National Championships (sprints/relays/high jump)
1st black female athlete with a product endorsement--Coca-Cola!
Mary McNabb
David T Howard HS
(Atlanta; closed in 1976)
Tuskeegee Tigers
1952 Helsinki Games
4x100m Relay Gold Alt.
Video of McNabb Training
Mary was only an alternate on the 1952 Helsinki team because of a pulled muscle, but her story has to be shared, too. The first athlete of legendary Georgia HS coach Marian Armstrong-Perkins unprecedented stable of 6 future Olympians, Mary was mentioned by Margaret Matthews Wilburn, a high school contemporary & teammate and future Tennessee TigerBelle Olympian, too, as inspiration in an interview by Fox 5 after her induction into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.
The story of her replacement(s) on the 4x100m Relay who went on the win gold is legendary.
Catherine Hardy
Carver HS
(Carrollton, GA)
Fort Valley St. Wildcats
1952 Helsinki Games
4x100m Relay Gold
Catherine was part of a legendary story of a 4x100m relay team including a replacement, 15 year old and a coach who changed the order and not only won gold, but set a new world record.
Video of Helsinki Race/New World Record
Mildred McDaniel
David T Howard HS
(Atlanta; closed in 1976)
Tuskeegee Tigers
1956 Melbourne Games
High Jump Gold
World Record HJ Video Link
Article Link
Article Link
Isabelle Daniels
Carver HS
(Jakin/Early County)
Tennessee State Tigers
1956 Melbourne Games
4x100m Bronze Anchor Leg
100m Dash 4th Place
4x100m Finals Video Link
100m Finals Video Link
Margaret Matthews
David T. Howard HS
(Atlanta; closed in 1976)
Tennessee State Tigers
1956 Melbourne Games
4x100m Bronze 2nd Leg
Annie Smith
David T. Howard
(Atlanta; closed in 1976)
Tennessee State Tigers
1960 Rome Games
Long Jump
Shirley Ann Crowder
David T. Howard
(Atlanta; closed in 1976)
Tennessee State Tigers
1960 Rome Games
80m Hurdles
Martha Hudson
Twin City HS
(Telfair County)
Tennessee State Tigers
1960 Rome Games
4x100m Gold
4x100m Gold Medal Video Link
1960 Olympic Team (TSU Teammates) 4 GA athletes! Top Row: Annie Smith (GA); Wilma Rudolph; Coach Ed Temple; Barbara Jones, Ralph Boston. Bottom Row: JoAnn Terry; Shirley Crowder (GA); Lucinda Williams (GA): Martha "Peewee" Hudson (GA)
Wyomia Tyus
Fairmont HS (Griffin)
(Closed in 1970)
Tennessee State Tigers
1968 Mexico City Games
100m Gold
4x100m Relay Gold
1964 Tokyo Games
100m Gold
4x100m Relay Silver
Tyus became the first ATHLETE (male or female) in history to win back to back 100m titles (1964 & 1968).
Next two athletes to do it were
Carl Lewis (84 & 88) and Gail Devers (92 & 96).
Lucinda Williams
Woodville HS
(now Tompkins HS)
Tennessee State Tigers
1960 Rome Games
4x100m Gold
100m
200m
4x100m Gold Medal Video Link
1956 Melbourne Games
100m
200m
Edith McGuire
S.H. Archer HS
(Atlanta--closed in 2002)
Tennessee State Tigers
1964 Tokyo Games
200m Gold
100m Silver
4x100m Silver
Mattiline Render
HS TBA
Moreland, GA
Tennessee State Tigers
1972 Munich Games
4x100m Relay
100m
Dr. Melvin Pender, Jr.
Lynwood HS (Atlanta, GA)
Now the Brookhaven area
TBA
1968 Mexico City Games
4x100m Relay Gold
100m Dash
1964 Mexico City Games
100m Dash
First time running track / racing was in Okinawa, Japan at age 25 and in the Army against some of Japan's Olympic team. He won. He was recalled twice from active duty in Vietnam to run for the US team & went on the be named the head track & field coach at West Point for years.
Willie Gault
Griffin HS
Tennessee Volunteers
1980 Moscow Games
BOYCOTTED BY U.S.
James Walker
West Fulton HS
(Atlanta, GA--closed now)
Auburn Tigers
1980 Moscow Games
Hurdler
BOYCOTTED BY U.S.
Stanley Floyd
Dougherty HS
Auburn Tigers/Houston Cougars
1980 Moscow Games
BOYCOTTED BY U.S.
Sam Graddy
Northside HS
(Atlanta, GA)
Tennessee Volunteer
1984 Los Angeles Games
1st Leg 4x100m Relay Gold
100m Dash Silver
Mel Lattany
Glynn Academy HS
(Brunswick, GA)
Georgia Bulldogs
1984 Los Angeles Games
4x100m Relay Alt. Gold
1980 Moscow Games
100m/4x100m Relay
BOYCOTTED BY U.S.
Roger Kingdom
Vienna HS
(Now Dooly County HS)
Pitt Panthers
1988 Seoul Games
110m Hurdles Gold
1984 Los Angeles Games
110m Hurdles Gold
1989 110m Hurdle World Record Video
1988 Olympic Gold 110m Hurdle Video
1984 Olympic Gold 110m Hurdle Video
Antonio McKay
Roosevelt HS
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
1988 Seoul Games
4x400m Gold
1984 Los Angeles Games
4x400m Gold
400m Bronze
1984 4x400m Gold Medal Video Link
Gwen Torrence
Columbia HS
Georgia Bulldogs
1996 Atlanta Games
Gold 4x100m
Bronze 100m
1992 Barcelona Games
Gold 200m
Gold 4x100m
Silver 4x400m
1992 Olympic 4x100m Gold Video
1992 Olympic 200m Gold Video
1996 Olympic 4x100m Gold Video
Antonio Pettigrew
Southwest Macon HS
Saint Augustine Falcons
2000 Sydney Games
4x400m Relay
2000 Olympic Gold 4x400m Video
1998 Goodwill Games World Record 4x400m
Derrick Peterson
Lovejoy HS
Missouri Tigers
2004 Athens Games
800m Run
1999 NCAA Indoor Championships (NCAA Record)
Terrence Trammell
Southwest Dekalb HS
South Carolina Gamecocks
2008 Beijing Games
Injured in Prelims
2004 Athens Games
Silver 110m Hurdles
2000 Sydney Games
Silver 110m Hurdles
Dwight Phillips
Tucker HS
Kentucky Wildcats
Arizona State Sun Devils
2004 Athens Games
Long Jump Gold
2004 Gold Medal LJ Video Link
Tora Harris
South Atlanta HS
Princeton Tigers
2004 Athens Games
High Jump
Adam Nelson
Lovett HS
Dartmouth Big Green
2008 Beijing Games
Shot Put
2004 Athens Games
Shot Put Gold
2000 Sydney Games
Shot Put Silver
2004 Olympics Interview & 3rd Round Throw Video
Medal Ceremony for Gold Medal Video
Reggie Witherspoon
Wheeler HS
Florida Gators/Baylor Bears
2008 Beijing Games
4x400m Gold
2008 Olympic Trials Interview Video
Jangy Addy
Norcross HS
Tennessee Volunteers
2012 London Games
Decathlon
2008 Beijing Games
Decathlon
Angelo Taylor
Southwest Dekalb HS
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2012 London Games
4x400m Silver
2008 Beijing Games
400m Hurdles Gold
4x400m Gold
2000 Sydney Games
400m Hurdles Gold
4x400m
DeeDee Trotter
Cedar Grove HS
Tennessee Volunteers
2012 London Games
4x400m Gold
400m Bronze
2008 Beijing Games
400m
4x400m
2004 Athens Games
4x400m Gold
George Kitchens, Jr.
Glenn Hills HS
Clemson Tigers
2012 London Games
Long Jump
Aries Merritt
Wheeler HS
Tennessee Volunteers
2012 London Games
110m Hurdles Gold
2012 Olympic Gold 110m Hurdles Video
2012 110m Hurdles World Record Video
Reese Hoffa
Lakeside-Evans HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2012 London Games
Shot Put Bronze
2008 Beijing Games
Shot Put
2004 Athens Games
Shot Put
Kibwe Johnson
North Gwinnett HS
Georgia Bulldogs
Ashland Eagles
2016 Rio Games
Hammer Throw
2012 London Games
Hammer Throw
Jarryd Wallace
Oconee County HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2016 Rio Games
100m (5th place)
4x100m Relay
2012 London Games
400m (6th place)
4x100m Relay
Aliyah Abrams
Grayson HS
South Carolina Gamecocks
2016 Rio Games
400m
Daina Levy
Kennesaw Mountain HS
Auburn Tigers /
Kansas Jayhawks
Jamaica Team
2016 Rio Games
Hammer Throw
Kendell Williams
Kell HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2020 Tokyo Games
Heptathlon
2016 Rio Games
Heptathlon
2014 World Junior 100mH Gold Video
Kristi Castlin
Chapel Hill HS
Virginia Tech Hokies
2016 Rio Games
100m Hurdles Bronze
Christian Taylor
Sandy Creek HS
Florida Gators
2016 Rio Games
Triple Jump Gold
2012 London Games
Triple Jump Gold
Christian Coleman
Our Lady of Mercy HS
Tennessee Volunteers
2016 Rio Games
4x100m Relay
2024 Paris Games
4x100m Relay
Daniel Haugh
St. Pius HS
Kennesaw State Owls
2024 Paris Games
Hammer Throw
2020 Tokyo Games
Hammer Throw
Elija Godwin
Newton HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2020 Paris Games
4x400m Relay
Daniel Roberts
Hampton HS
Kentucky Wildcats
2024 Paris Games
110m Hurdles Silver
2020 Tokyo Games
110m Hurdles
Javianne Oliver
Monroe Area HS
Kentucky Wildcats
2020 Tokyo Games
4x100m Relay Silver
100m Dash
Sanaa Frederick
Druid Hills HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2024 Paris Games
4x100m Relay
Trinidad and Tobago Team
Sole Frederick
Druid Hills HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2024 Paris Games
4x100m Relay
Trinidad and Tobago Team
Adaejah Hodge
Alexander HS
Georgia Bulldogs
2024 Paris Games
200m Dash
British Virgin Islands Team
Jasmine Jones
Greater Atlanta Christian HS
Southern Cal
2024 Paris Games
400m Hurdles
4th Place
Chris Bailey
Carver-Atlanta HS
Arkansas Razorbacks
2024 Paris Games
400m
4x400m Relay Gold
Graham Blanks
Athens Academy
Harvard Crimson
2024 Paris Games
5000m
Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Partners
Interested in becoming a Partner of Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association?
Contact us at outreach@gatfxcca.org
Official recruiting app of the GATFXCCA!
Long-time supporter of our clinic!
A premiere partner of our association!
Official partner of our Hall of Fame/COY Awards!
Official partner of our clinic!
Custom apparel and batons--partner of our clinic!
