What was Vonetta Flowers life event?
The first person of African descent, male or female, to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics was Vonetta Flowers when she won gold in the women’s bobsled event in 2002 at Salt Lake City.
Who is Vonetta Flowers And how did she make history?
Vonetta Flowers (née Jeffery; born October 29, 1973) is an American bobsledder. In 2002 Winter Olympics, Flowers became the first African American and the first black athlete from any country to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics.
Where is Vonetta Flowers from?
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Vonetta Flowers/Place of birth
How old is vonetta?
48 years (October 29, 1973)
Vonetta Flowers/Age
Why is Vonetta Flowers important?
Bobsledder Vonetta Flowers was the first African American to earn a gold medal in the Winter Olympics, and did so in her sport’s first women’s Olympic event. After a lifetime spent chasing the gold in track and field events, Flowers switched her focus to achieve it on the first-ever women’s Olympic bobsled team.
What is Vonetta Flowers doing now?
Flowers is an assistant track coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her husband and coach, Johnny Flowers, is also an accomplished track and field athlete.
Where is Vonetta Flowers now?
She failed to make the 1994 Olympic team after ankle surgery, and considered retiring, and finished 12th in the 2000 Olympic long-jump trials, still plagued by injuries. She had two knee operations and ankle surgery. Flowers is an assistant track coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
How old was Vonetta Flowers when she won her gold medal?
nine
Vonetta holds the honor of being the first person of African descent (male or female)from any country to win a GOLD medal in the Winter Olympics! At the early age of nine, Vonetta started her Winter Olympic road to gold, but it was in a Summer Olympic sport.
When did Vonetta Flowers retire?
2006
Vonetta Flowers retired from competition after the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Who is Vonetta Flowers and what did she do?
Vonetta Flowers (née Jeffery; October 29, 1973) is an American bobsledder. Flowers was a star sprinter and long jumper at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and originally aspired to make the U.S. Summer Olympic Team.
When did Vonetta Flowers win a gold medal?
At the 2002 Winter Games, Flowers’ lifelong dream of medaling came true when she and teammate Jill Bakken delivered an upset victory and won gold in the women’s event. The win ended the Americans’ long medal drought and made Flowers the first black person to ever win gold at the Winter Olympics. Flowers is married and has three children.
Why did Jessica Vonetta retire from track and field?
After a disappointing performance at the 2000 trials, Vonetta felt it was time to retire from Track and Field, with hopes of starting a family. Two days after the 2000 Olympic Trials, Vonetta’s husband, Johnny, spotted a flyer urging Track and Field athletes to tryout for the U.S. bobsled team.
When did Vonetta Thomas graduate from high school?
For the next 10 years, Coach Thomas watched a shy young girl develop into a very determined young lady. During that time, she would win almost every race that she entered. In 1992 Vonetta graduated from P.D. Jackson Olin High School, where she participated in track and field, volleyball and basketball.