Coachman, Alice (1923–)

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Coachman, Alice (1923–)

African-American track-and-field athlete. Born Nov 9, 1923, in Albany, Georgia; m. Frank Davis (div.).

At London Games, won a gold medal for the women's high jump, 5' 6 1/2, setting an Olympic record and becoming the 1st African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal (1948); holds record for most consecutive Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships in outdoor high jump (1939–48); was AAU champion at 50 meters (1943–47), 100 meters (1942, 1945, 1946), indoor high jump (1941, 1945, 1946), and indoor 50 meters (1945, 1946).

See also Women in World History.