Lucinda Williams (athlete)

Lucinda Williams Adams (born August 10, 1937) is an American athlete, who mainly competed in the 100 metres. She competed for the United States in the 4 x 100 metres at the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy, where she won the gold medal with her team mates Martha Hudson, Barbara Jones and Olympic 100 and 200 metre champion Wilma Rudolph. She was born in Bloomingdale, Georgia

Williams' athletic journey started during recess at Woodville School (later Tompkins High) where her athletic abilities were first noticed by Joe Turner during an early May recess. Following her 1955 high school graduation in Savannah, Georgia, Lucinda Williams Adams enrolled at Tennessee State University in Nashville where for four years she starred both academically and athletically. She was a member of the 1956 Olympic team, which competed in the XVI Olympiad in Melbourne, Australia.

In 1958 she was a member of the U.S. team which competed in the first U.S. vs. USSR Track and Field meet held in Moscow. At this meet Williams won two gold medals, one in the 200m dash and the 400m relay. Also in 1958 she was a member of the U.S. team in the 1959 Pan American Games held in Chicago, winning three gold medals and setting the American record for the women’s 220 yard. She capped her track career as a member of the 1960 United States National Team, competing in the XVII Olympic Games in Rome Italy.

Williams received many awards because of all her accomplishments. In 1958 she finished third in the Sullivan Award voting. She has been elected to the Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame, the Tennessee State University Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 1994 she was named to the Georgia Hall of Fame.

References

* [http://www.wvu.edu/~physed/blacksports/fall2002/lucindawilliams.htm Profile]