16 First African-American Athletes Changing The History Of Sports!
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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.
"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.
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