TYUS, WYOMIA

born Aug. 29, 1945, Griffin, Ga., U.S. Wyomia Tyus anchoring the U.S. 4 100-metre relay team, which won the gold medal in world American sprinter who several times held the world record for the 100-metre race and was the first person to win the Olympic Games gold medal in the event twice. Tyus attracted national attention as a high-school runner. A scholarship to Tennessee State University (TSU) in Nashville enabled her to compete in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meets, in which she won races of 100 metres (1964), 100 yards (196566), and 220 yards (1966). A three-time winner of the 60-yard dash (196567), she set world records in the event in 1965 and 1966. Tyus made her Olympic debut at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, capturing the gold medal in the 100-metre race and a silver as a member of the 4 100-metre relay team. After graduating from TSU (B.A., 1967), she went to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where she defended her title, winning the 100 metres in the world-record time of 11.0 seconds. With this second consecutive gold medal, Tyus became the first athlete to win the event twice in Olympic competition. That year she also won a gold medal as the anchor of the 4 100-metre relay team. She was the world record holder in the 100-metre race from 1964 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1972. Tyus began entering professional track competitions in 1973 and later worked as a television sports commentator.