Track and Field Black History Anderson Emerole

When speaking about athletics, Haiti is often forgotten and left out of the conversation. Stories and news about the country are usually dominated by the struggles it is either currently facing or has gone through in the past
Many know Haiti as the first Black republic in the world after the Haitian Revolution of 1791 -1804. Few are familiar with the almost 20 year occupation from 1915 - 1934 by the United States. And even fewer are familiar with one of the most outspoken activists and ambassadors for the nation Sylvio Cator.
While his country was under occupation by the United States, Cator won Haiti’s first, and to this day only, medal in Track and Field, broke the world record in the Long Jump, and was a pivotal figure in the effort to liberate Haiti from the United States.
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The Modern Olympic Games were first held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 1904 saw the first Black man, George Poage win an Olympic medal, while 1908 was the first time a Black man, John Taylor, would win an Olympic Gold medal. 
Women’s events in Track & Field were first introduced at the 1928 Games while 1936 was the first time an African American woman would have the chance to compete, with Tyide Pickett breaking that barrier
With both the 1940 and 1944 Olympic cancelled due to World War 2, it wasn’t until the London 1948 Games where we saw not only the first Black Woman win an Olympic medal, but also the first Black Woman to win an Olympic Gold. 
Alice Coachman, with a Gold medal in the high jump, was the pioneer who stood at the top the podium for the first time in Olympic history, opening the door and paving the way for the many who would follow in the years and decades after. 
 
Watch Full Alice Coachman Interview with Washington University of St Louis Here: http://repository.wustl.edu/concern/videos/b27740880 
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Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens are two of the greatest athletes in the history of sport. Jackie broke the color barrier in baseball becoming the first Black athlete to play in the MLB. While in Track & Field, Owens won 4 Olympic Gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games and is credited as crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy.
But just behind both Jackie Robinson and Jessie Owens was Matthew “Mack” Robinson, Jackie’s older brother and the Olympic silver medalist in the 200m right behind Owens at the 1936 Olympics.
Throughout his life, Mack overcame various setbacks and struggles, including segregation in Pasadena, to being told he would never compete in sports due to a heart murmur. Despite that, he made huge strides both on and off the track.
In addition to winning the 1936 Olympic 200m Silver, Mack focused a significant amount of his time volunteering with youth organizations, including providing opportunities for kids in his hometown. He was also a vocal advocate for rights in the city of Pasadena.
 
Watch Full Mack Robinson Interview with Washington University Here: http://repository.wustl.edu/concern/videos/k0698c509
 
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Many of us know the story of Wilma Rudolph and what she did at the 1960 Olympic Games, overcoming various illnesses to become the first woman to win 3 Olympic Gold Medals, in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
But just 4 years later, fellow TSU Tigerbelle Edith McGuire, who is often forgotten, also won 3 Olympic medals at the 1964 Games in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
Though she earned 1 gold and 2 silvers, McGuire's accomplishments were just as impactful and deserve a bit of highlight as well.
 
Watch Full Edith McGuire and Wyomia Tyus Interview with Center for Sport & Social Justice: https://youtu.be/xjs6qUI6C_c
 
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The 10 second barrier has been a milestone for decades in the Men’s 100m Dash. A time of 9.9 seconds was seen as a right of passage into becoming an elite sprinter, and among one of the best in the world.
Though running sub 10 is commonplace today amongst the top sprinters in the world, about 50 years ago in 1968, no man had ever broken the barrier. Not until Jim Hines.
Jim Hines became the first person to break the 10 second barrier when he ran a hand-timed 9.9 second 100m dash at the 1968 AAU Championships. 
Because that performance was hand-timed, and the Automatic time was actually 10.03, Hines wanted to do it again and this time at a place where it mattered.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico, Hines won the Gold medal in the 100m Dash and broke the 10 second barrier again, this time running an Automatic time of 9.95 seconds, a time that would stand as the World Record for almost 15 years.
 
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On August 24th 2004, Joanna Hayes won the Olympic Gold medal in the Women's 100mH in Athens, Greece. She became the first American Women to win Olympic Gold in the event since Benita Fitzgerald at the 1984 Olympics. Her winning time of 12.37 broke the Olympic Record in the event set back in Seoul 1988.
Hayes has since transitioned into coaching, now working at the University of Southern California as the Assistant Sprints and Hurdles coach. She also works with pro athletes such as Rai Benjamin, Michael Norman, Kendall Ellis, Kyra Constantine among others.
At the recent 2022 World Championships in Eugene Oregon, we sat down with Hayes to talk a bit about her history competing, perspective on the hurdles and now working as a coach. We dive into her background growing up in California, looking up to Flo-Jo, JJK and Gail Devers, and doubling in both the 100mH and 400mH. We also discuss her 2004 Olympic Gold, the current landscape of the Womens 100mH and what she loves about coaching and working with athletes now.
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