African-American swimmer Simone Manuel recently won 2 gold medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics. A Facebook user shared a photo of a man pouring acid into the water at the Monson Motor Lodge in St. Augustine, FL because he didn't want African-Americans to swim in the pool. This photo depicted how important it is that an African-American person win a gold medal today, as they were banned from all swimming pools and beaches just 50 years ago.
16 First African-American Athletes Changing The History Of Sports!
"These photos are only 52 years apart"
Upon the success of Simone Manuel, we gathered a list of first African-American athletes that made history with their successful careers!
1. 1890- George Dixon is the first African-American world boxing champion.
2. 1899- Marshall 'Major' Taylor becomes the first African-American world cycling champion.
3. 1908- John Baxter Taylor becomes the first African-American to win a gold medal in the London Olympics.
4. 1924- Dehart Hubbard becomes the first African-American to win an Olympic gold medal in a individual event.
Hubbard won a medal in long jump.
5. 1936- Jesse Owens is the first African-American to win four different gold medals at a single Olympics tournament.
6. 1950- Earl Lloyd is the first African-American athlete to play in the NBA.
7. 1957- Althea Gibson becomes the first African-American to play and win in the women's singles at Wimbledon.
8. 1960- Wilma Rudolph becomes the first woman in Olympics history to win three gold medals in a single Olympics.
9. 1960- Muhammad Ali wins a gold medal in boxing at the Olympics in Rome 1960.
10. 1962- Charlie Sifford becomes the first African-American PGA tour member
11. 1966- Bill Russell becomes the first African-American to coach an NBA team (Boston Celtics).
12. 1975- Arthur Ashe becomes the first African-American to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon.
13. 1988- Debi Thomas becomes the first African-American to earn a medal in ice-skating in the Winter Olympics.
14. 1995- Sheryl Swoopes becomes the first female athlete to have an athletic shoe named after her.
15. 1997- Tiger Woods becomes the first African-American to win the Masters Golf Tournament.
16. 2012- Gabby Douglas becomes the first African-American to win the individual all-around event in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
