White, Willye B. (1939–)

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White, Willye B. (1939–)

African-American track-and-field athlete. Born Willie White, Jan 1, 1939, in Money, MS.

Tennessee Tigerbelle and AAU indoor champion (1962); participated in 5 Olympics (1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972); won an Olympic silver medal at Melbourne (1956), the 1st American woman to win an Olympic medal in the long jump; won an Olympic silver medal in 4 × 100-meter relay at Tokyo (1964); traveled to 150 countries as a member of 35 international teams; served on the President's Commission on Olympic Sports; was the 1st American woman to jump over 210 in the broad jump; established the Willye White Foundation to honor women high-school athletes. Named to the Black Sports Hall of Fame, was the 1st to receive the Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Trophy from France, and was inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame.

See also Women in World History.