Wyomia Tyus
Encyclopedia
Wyomia Tyus is an American
athlete, and the first person to retain the Olympic
title in the 100 m.
Tyus, from Tennessee State University
, participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics
at age 19. In the heats of the event, she equalled Wilma Rudolph
's World Record, propelling her to a favored position for the final, where her main rival would be fellow American Edith McGuire
. Tyus won the final, beating McGuire by two tenths. At the same Olympics, she also won a silver medal with the 4 x 100 m relay team, finishing only behind Poland
.
The following years, Tyus won numerous national championships in the sprint events, and a gold medal in the 200 m at the Pan-American Games. In 1968, she returned to the Olympics to defend her title in the 100 m. In the final, she set a new World Record of 11.08 to become the first woman to retain the Olympic 100 m title. Tyus also qualified for the 200 m final, in which she finished sixth. Running the final leg for the relay team, Tyus helped setting a new World Record, winning her third gold medal.
Tyus retired from amateur sports after the 1968 Olympics.
In 1973 she was invited to compete in the 60-yard dash in the new Professional International Track Association competitions. Her first year back she won eight of eighteen events, but the following year she won every event she entered, a total of twenty-two races. Tyus went on to coach at Beverly Hills High School
and was a founding member of the Women's Sports Foundation
.
During the Richard Dawson era of Family Feud
, Tyus appeared with her family. They won the $5,000 prize.
In 1980, Tyus was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. In 1985, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, and the first person to retain the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
title in the 100 m.
Tyus, from Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
, participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
at age 19. In the heats of the event, she equalled Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American athlete. Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and competed in two Olympic Games, in 1956 and in 1960....
's World Record, propelling her to a favored position for the final, where her main rival would be fellow American Edith McGuire
Edith McGuire
Edith Marie McGuire , later known as Edith McGuire Duvall, is a former American sprinter.Born in Atlanta, McGuire ran for Tennessee State University...
. Tyus won the final, beating McGuire by two tenths. At the same Olympics, she also won a silver medal with the 4 x 100 m relay team, finishing only behind Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
The following years, Tyus won numerous national championships in the sprint events, and a gold medal in the 200 m at the Pan-American Games. In 1968, she returned to the Olympics to defend her title in the 100 m. In the final, she set a new World Record of 11.08 to become the first woman to retain the Olympic 100 m title. Tyus also qualified for the 200 m final, in which she finished sixth. Running the final leg for the relay team, Tyus helped setting a new World Record, winning her third gold medal.
Tyus retired from amateur sports after the 1968 Olympics.
In 1973 she was invited to compete in the 60-yard dash in the new Professional International Track Association competitions. Her first year back she won eight of eighteen events, but the following year she won every event she entered, a total of twenty-two races. Tyus went on to coach at Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
and was a founding member of the Women's Sports Foundation
Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation "is an educational nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King." Its stated mission statement is "To advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity."...
.
During the Richard Dawson era of Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
, Tyus appeared with her family. They won the $5,000 prize.
In 1980, Tyus was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame. In 1985, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.