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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.

See #5 in the article for more info.

Mae Faggs History Info

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

See #5 in the article for more info.

Mae Faggs History Info

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

4x100m Finals Video Link


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

 

1968 Gold Medal Video Link


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.
 

1983 World Championships World Record 4x100m Video

 

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.

World Invitational Peking 1980 Video Link

Sam Graddy
Northside HS
(Atlanta, GA)
Tennessee Volunteer
 

1984 Los Angeles Games
1st Leg 4x100m Relay Gold
100m Dash Silver
 

1984 4x100m Olympic/World Record Video

1984 100m Olympic Finals Video


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.
 

Mel Lattany Highlight Video

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
 

2012 4x400m Gold Video Link


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


2012 Interview Winning Bronze Video

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


2016 Rio Games
Hammer Throw

Kendell Williams
Kell HS
Georgia Bulldogs


2016 Rio Games
Heptathlon


2014 World Junior 100mH Gold Video


Kristi Castlin
Chapel Hill HS
Virginia Tech Hokies


2016 Rio Games

100m Hurdles Bronze

 

2016 Rio 100m Hurdles Video

Christian Taylor
Sandy Creek HS
Florida Gators


2016 Rio Games
Triple Jump Gold

2012 London Games
Triple Jump Gold


2016 Gold Medal TJ Video
2012 Gold Medal TJ Video

Christian Coleman
Our Lady of Mercy HS
Tennessee Volunteers

2016 Rio Games
4x100m Relay
 

60m Dash World Record Video


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!