Amazing Moments in Olympic History: Vonetta Flowers' Golden Run
USOC April 01, 2009
Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Vonetta Flowers and Jill Bakken of the USA receive their gold medals in the 2-woman bobsleigh at the medal awards ceremony at the Olympic Medals Plaza during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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Growing up in Birmingham, Ala. Vonetta Flowers dreamed of becoming an Olympian. The track & field athlete was a star in both high school and college. She qualified for the Olympic Trials twice in the sport, in 1996 and 2000. Plagued by injuries, she did not earn a spot on either team. After undergoing her 5th surgery in 8 years and failing to make the 2000 U.S. Team, Vonetta decided to retire and give up her Olympic dream.
But fate had something else in mind. Vonetta's husband Johnny responded to a call for track & field athletes to try out for the U.S. bobsled team. He convinced her to accompany him though she was not interested in participating. After arriving, Johnny suffered a hamstring injury and was unable to compete. He asked his wife to step in for him to try out. Neither of them had any idea how this would change their lives.
In a matter of months, Vonetta was competing for the U.S. National Team. She quickly ascended to become the number one brakewoman in the United States. A year later, Vonetta and her partner Jill Bakken made history at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games by winning the gold medal in the inaugural Women's Bobsled competition. It was the first bobsled medal for the United States in 46 years, and Vonetta became the first person of African descent from any country to win a gold medal in the Winter Games.
Amazing Moments in Olympic History" will be published every Wednesday on teamusa.org. Check back weekly to see more landmark achievements and incredible feats in the history of Team USA and the Olympic Movement.
