Best known as the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, she took gold in the high jump at the 1948 Olympics.
She was a stellar youth athlete, who had great success at the AAU level.
She won an Olympic gold despite missing her prime, as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II.
She was born in Albany, Georgia.
She is credited with paving the way for female African-American Olympians such as Marion Jones.
