Vonetta Flowers

Ms. K

       The Winter Olympics started this past Friday February 7, 2012 in Russia. But did you know who was the first black woman to win a winter Olympics? A Woman who’s journey changed from her original plan. A woman who never imagined her life would go beyond running track and field to exploring bobsleigh that would led to her being the first black woman to win Gold in the Winter Olympics.  The FIRST black athlete to earn winter gold was USA’s Vonetta Flowers in the women’s bobsleigh, at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Vonetta Flowers was born October 29, 1973. Vontta started running at 9 years old. Vonetta journey has always loved  track and field. She had the honor to qualify for both 1996 and 2000 for Olympic trails. She still was not able to make a spot on the American team. After competing in the 2000 trails and didn’t qualify she felt it was time to retire from Track and Field, and start a family. Her husband Johnny directed her in a different direction after seeing a flyer urging Track and Field to try out for U.S.  bobsled team. Vionetta background in track field help her have an advantage in bobsledding. She quickly become number 1 brake woman in the U.S.  A year later Vionetta and her partner Jill Bakken slid into history by winning the Gold.

Read the whole story:

http://www.vonettaflowers.com/story.asp

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