Celebrating the achievements of African-American Olympians

Candace Chambers
Staff Writer

With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in full effect in the month of February, the achievements of African-American U.S. Olympians should be highlighted.  From swimming to gymnastics, and even in the sport of bobsledding, African-Americans are shining their athletic light in competitions to showcase talent from all over the world.  Cullen Jones, Gabby Douglas, and Vonetta Flowers are making history one medal at a time.

Cullen Jones is an Olympic swimmer and member of the U.S.A. National Swimming Team. He became the first African-American to break a long-course world record according to usaswimming.org. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Jones won three medals. As a member of the 400m medley relay team, he received a gold medal. He achieved silver in both the 50m free and 400 free relay.  He is the current American record holder in the 50m free relay.

Gabby Douglas amazed the hearts of many as she performed in the 2012 London Summer Olympics. The young gymnast won gold medals in the team and individual all-around competitions. According to gabrielledouglas.org, she is “the first American gymnast to win gold in both the gymnastic individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympic games.” Introduced to gymnastics by way of a cartwheel, Douglas is also the only female in history to earn both Team and Individual gold medals in the same Olympics. Her journey is not over because she plans to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

Vonetta Flowers is the first African-American to win a Gold Medal in the Winter Olympics. This Olympian began bobsledding at the age of 26 and was an Olympic champion in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Not only was she the first African-American to win a gold medal in the winter Olympics, but she is the “1st person of African descent from any country to win a Gold Medal in the Winter Olympics,” as stated on vonettaflowers.com. This all-around athlete played volleyball, basketball, and ran track in high school, but bobsledding took home the gold.