Gwen Torrence

Gwen Torrence
Personal information
Born (1965-06-12) June 12, 1965 (age 59)[1]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm)[2]
Weight125 lb (57 kg)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTrack and field
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona 4 × 100 m relay
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 4 × 100 m relay
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona 4 × 400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta 100 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1993 Stuttgart 4 × 400 m relay
Gold medal – first place 1995 Gothenburg 100 m
Gold medal – first place 1995 Gothenburg 4 × 100 m relay
Silver medal – second place 1991 Tokyo 100 m
Silver medal – second place 1991 Tokyo 200 m
Silver medal – second place 1993 Stuttgart 200 m
Silver medal – second place 1993 Stuttgart 4 × 100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Stuttgart 100 m
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1987 Indianapolis 200 m
Updated on February 9, 2014

Gwendolyn Lenna Torrence (born June 12, 1965) is a retired American sprinter and Olympic champion. She was born in Decatur, Georgia. She attended Columbia High School and the University of Georgia. She was offered a scholarship because of her athletic abilities, but she said she wasn't interested because she initially wanted to become a beautician. From the persuasion from her coaches and family, she chose to enroll to the University of Georgia.

In the early 1990s, Gwen Torrence was one of the best sprinters in the world, winning five Olympic medals, and three gold.[3]

Torrence won medals at the Summer Olympics, Outdoor & Indoor World Championships, Pan American Games, Goodwill Games, and World University Games.

In 1988, Torrence achieved a tie with Evelyn Ashford in the 55 m race at the U.S. national indoor championships. She also had many battles both on the track and in the press with Florence Griffith Joyner.[citation needed]

In the 200 m at the 1995 World Championships, she was disqualified for stepping out of her lane after finishing first. This left her idol, Merlene Ottey, to be promoted to first place.

In 2000 she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.[4]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
1985 World University Games Kobe, Japan 1st 4 × 100 m relay
1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, United States 1st 200 m
1st 4 × 100 m relay
World University Games Zagreb, Yugoslavia 1st 100 m
1st 200 m
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 5th 100 m
6th 200 m
1989 World Indoor Championships Budapest, Hungary 2nd 60 m
1991 World Championships Tokyo, Japan 2nd 100 m
2nd 200 m
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain 1st 200 m
1st 4 × 100 m relay
2nd 4 × 400 m relay
1993 World Championships Stuttgart, Germany 3rd 100 m
2nd 200 m
2nd 4 × 100 m relay
1st 4 × 400 m relay
1994 Goodwill Games Saint Petersburg, Russia 1st 100 m
1st 200 m
1st 4 × 100 m relay
1995 World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden 1st 100 m
1st 4 × 100 m relay
1996 Olympic Games Atlanta, United States 3rd 100 m
1st 4 × 100 m relay

National titles

Personal bests

Outdoor

Indoor

Awards

World Athlete of the Year (Women)：1995[5]

References

  1. ^ "Gwen Torrence". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Gwen Torrence". usatf.org. USA Track & Field. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "Gwen TORRENCE".
  4. ^ "Gwen Torrence" (PDF). Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  5. ^ "World Athletes of the Year" (PDF). World Athletics.
Awards
Preceded by United Press International
Athlete of the Year
1995 		Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Women's Track & Field ESPY Award
1995 		Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Women's 200m Best Year Performance
1992
1994–1995 		Succeeded by