Wyomia Tyus, born in 1945, is a pioneering American sprinter renowned for her consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Beyond her Olympic success, she set multiple world records and won a silver medal in the 4×100-meter relay in 1964. Tyus confronted racial and gender barriers in her career and became an advocate for civil and women’s rights. Her achievements resonate as she broke barriers during a time of racial segregation and gender discrimination, leaving an enduring legacy in track and field history.

Wyomia Tyus Quotes

1. “I never think about anybody. I let them think about me.”
— Wyomia Tyus

2. “I wasn’t paid a dime for my track career. But participating in the Olympics gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures; it made me a better person. I wouldn’t trade the time I competed for anything.”
— Wyomia Tyus

3. “My father used to tell us, ‘You will have to work twice as hard to get what you want.”
— Wyomia Tyus