Do Not Sleep On These Black Women Who Are World Class Olympians

Not only is MADAMENOIRE honoring contemporary Olympians, we are paying homage to Black women Olympians who paved their way. These Women exemplify the grit, strength and will power it takes to rise in their respective sport and they are as diverse as the diaspora itself. The following list the Black excellency we’ve come to know in gymnastics, track and field, hurdles and swimming.

Gymnastics has been a part of Olympic Competitions since 1896. The women’s competition was not added until 1936. Since then, women’s gymnastics has become a fan favorite, but it was in 1996 when black women stepped onto the floor and excited Olympic audiences. Black women have gone from winning to completely dominating as the next two Olympians demonstrate.

Dominique Dawes

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It can be argued that Dominique Dawes’s performance in the 1996 Olympics is what put Black women front and center in gymnastics. Dawes participated in three Olympic Competitions, making her first appearance in the 1992 Olympics. Dawes did not receive an individual medal but earned a bronze medal as part of Team USA. Her true breakout came in 1996 as an integral member of Team USA’s “Magnificent 7.” Dawes is the first African American to earn a bronze medal on the floor exercise. She took home gold for the overall team medal. The star gymnast competed once more in the 2000 Olympic games before returning to her home state of Maryland

Dawes graduated from the University of Maryland and went on to have a wide-ranging career. The Olympian performed in Broadway’s Grease and was a commentator at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Dawes was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009.She currently owns and operates the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy in Clarksburg, Maryland.

Simone Biles

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Simone BIles is the greatest gymnast that has ever competed. This is a fact that is not up for debate. Biles’s record speaks for itself. To date, Biles holds 10 Gold Medals in the World Championships; more than any other gymnast in the history of the sport. Her website lists her as an Olympic Gold medalist in “vault, floor, Individual and Team all-around, Bronze medalist on Beam at the 2016 Rio Olympics.” Biles has four gymnastics skills named in her honor. Her #Blackgirlmagic is undeniable, as is her skill and self-care. Biles withdrew from the 2021 Olympics, citing mental health.

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Swimming is a sore subject for many Black Americans. Both a recreational activity and sport, access to swimming pools is not readily available to Black Americans. Segregation and discrimination in the sport is widely documented. In spite of the obstacles, the following two Olympians swim forth leaving space in the lanes Black Americans to follow.

Simone Manuel

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Currently Serving as the U.S Olympic Swim team co-captain, Simone Manuel is a breakout star. Manuel holds multiple world championship medals: six gold, three silver, and two bronze — to be exact. According to the official website for USA Swimming, Manuel is the first African American woman to win a Gold Medal in the 100m freestyle during the 2020 Beijing Olympics. Due to overtraining syndrome, a sports condition that over taxes athletes bodies, Manuel did not secure a position in the 100m freestyle for the Tokyo Olympics. Manuel will instead compete in the 50m freestyle. She still has a chance to join the swim relay team. Though Manuel is highly accomplished, her career is just getting started and the opportunity to earn more gold is right around the corner.

Maritza McClendon

African American Kids Learn to Swim with Olympic Swimmer

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

Swimming became a part of Mariza McClendon’s life out of necessity. McClendon was diagnosed with scoliosis, a spine disorder, at a young age her occupational therapy came in the form of swimming. While strengthening her body McClendon found her passion. She steadily advocates for more Black Americans to learn basic water safety skills. McClendon kicked the pool door wide open for African American women. In 2004, she became the first African American woman to join the Olympic Swim Team. That same year McClendon earned the Silver medal in the 400m freestyle, also becoming the first African American woman to medal in an Olympic Swimming event. McClendon served as Team USA’s swim captain in 2003, 2005 and 2007. She has earned over 12 international medals during the course of her career.

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In the extensive list of disciplines that are under the umbrella of Track and Field, hurdles are mainstream. Athletes not only put their speed to the test they exhibit extreme skill as they leap above literal and metaphorical hurdles. These women are no exception, they are exceptional.

Kendra “Kenni” Harrison

2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials - Day 3

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Kendra Harrison is a first time track and field Olympian competing in the 100m Hurdles. Though Harrison is a new addition to Team USA, it is not for a lack of trying. Harrison was a favorite to make the 2016 Rio Olympic team, yet her performance was underwhelming. Harrison ran 12.91 seconds, her lowest time of the 2015-2016 season.

Failing to make the Olympic team for the 2016 Rio Olympics was a motivating experience for Harrrison.

She went back to the drawing board with a new mindset and focus. She credits her shift mindset as the starting point on her road to redemption. She acknowledges her focus on being top tier as a hindrance in past performance. Harrison now see’s winning as the goal:

“I’m going there every race – the goal is to win. I can’t go out there trying to get Top 3, because you know it could end badly.”

Harrison took time during the pandemic to grow stronger and faster as she trained with former olympic sprinters Jenna Prandini and Teahna Daniels, under coach Edrick Floreal. She hopes to increase her sprint speed and technique. As a hurdler the ability to sprint efficiently before jumping hurdles is an advantage.

USA Track and Field website credits Harrison with breaking a 28 year old Hurdling world record in 2016 — 100m Hurdles – 12.20 at London Grand Prix. Over the course of her career, Harrison has medaled in world championships both for indoor and outdoor hurtling. To date, Harrison has won 7 Gold Medals between 2015 – 2021, including USATF Outdoor Championships 100m Hurdles, NACAC Championships, 100m Hurdles and USATF Indoor Championships, gold (60m Hurdles) just to name a few.

Harrison’s dedication to the sport is long. A native of South Carolina, Harrison was active on the track. She attended the University of Kentucky and participated in both indoor and outdoor track and field events. Harrison is being inducted into the University of Kentucky’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021. She currently works for former University of Kentucky coach Floreal as a volunteer assistant coach for the track and field program. Along with training the younger generation, Harrison continues to train to win the gold in Tokyo and run her best race.

Dalilah Muhammad

Source: Harry How / Getty

Born in Queens, New York, Dalilah Muhammad became the first American woman to win gold in the 400-meter hurdles, setting the record at 52.16. Muhammad stands in a precarious position as a Muslim woman and top athlete on the world stage. Politics has infiltrated all areas of American life. Most especially in sports, where other greats have been compelled to take a stance and state their opinions on popular social movements like Black Lives Matter and the Trump presidency. Muhammad however does not lean into her beliefs. She is a Muslim woman who does not wear a hijab and does not outwardly displacy her beliefs. Her focus is on the track. Muhammad is described by her coach Lawrence Johnson as “ really sophisticated.” He cites their strategy sessions breaking down the most miniscule information, such as the width of the lanes on a track as a reason she is great. These unorthodox observations is most likely the reason Muhammad has excelled in the sport.

Before becoming an Olympic gold medalist, Muhammad competed in track and field at the University of Southern California, graduating in 2012, with a degree in business administration. Nearly a decade later, Muhammad still appears to be in her prime. This year’s Olympic trial wins come after a 2019 training injury that set Muhammad back but did not take her out. Muhammad ran without any trace of injury and maintained a sizable lead over her opponents as she broke her previous World Record of 52.20 lowering her time by .04 of a second. Sydney McLaughlin came in second with a time of 52.23.

Since receiving, her 2016 gold medal, the Team USA website credits Muhammad with multiple medals in the World Championships. Recently, she took home the gold (400m hurdles, 4x400m relay). Muhammad graduated from the University of Southern California in 2012 and has been an active competitor ever since. Dalilah qualified for the Tokyo Olympics while recovering from a hamstring injury and COVID-19.

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Do Not Sleep On These World Class Black Women Olympians