Faggs, Mae (1932–)

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Faggs, Mae (1932–)

African-American track-and-field athlete. Name variations: Mae Faggs Starr. Born Aeriwentha Mae Faggs, April 10, 1932, in Mays Landing, NY; m. Eddie Starr (high school principal).

One of the famed Tigerbelles of Tennessee State University, was the 1st American woman to participate in three Olympics (1948, 1952, 1956); won AAU 200-meters (1954, 1955, 1956); won a silver medal in the 200-meter and a gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay at Pan American Games (1955); won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay with a 45.9 time at Helsinki Olympics (1952) and the bronze medal in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 44.9 in the Melbourne Olympics (1956).

See also Women in World History.