Audrey Patterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olympic medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Bronze	1948 London	200 metres

Audrey ("Mickey") Patterson (born September 27, 1926 – died August 23, 1996) was a pioneering American athlete. She made history as the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal. This amazing achievement happened at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where she earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash.

Her Early Life and Passion for Running

Audrey Patterson was born in New Orleans. Her parents were Lionel and Josephine Nero Patterson. She went to Danneel Elementary School. Later, she attended Gilbert Academy. It was there that she discovered her love for running.

Audrey was so good at sports that she earned a scholarship. She went to Tennessee State University in Nashville. She later graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Olympic Dreams and Medal Win

Audrey was unbeatable in high school and college. She was a star in the 100-meter and 200-meter races. She also excelled in the 400-meter relay. She became a national and international champion in her individual events.

In 1948, Audrey won the 200-meter race at the U.S. Olympic trials. This win helped her join eight other black American female track athletes. They all went to compete at the London Olympic Games.

Audrey was 22 years old when she won her Olympic medal. She finished the 200 meters in 25.2 seconds. This was the same time as Shirley Strickland from Australia. Officials took 45 minutes to decide who would get the bronze medal. In the end, Audrey Patterson was awarded the bronze. Shirley Strickland was placed fourth.

The race was won by Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands. She was considered a top female Olympian of her time. This was her third gold medal at the 1948 games. By winning the bronze, Audrey became the first African-American woman from the United States to win an Olympic medal. A few days later, Alice Coachman won a gold medal in the high jump. The London games were also the first time women competed in the 200-meter distance race.

Coaching and Community Work

In 1965, Audrey started her own track club. It was called Mickey's Missiles. This club was first for girls aged 6 to 18. Boys joined the group a few years later. The club grew from just three members to over 125.

Mickey's Missiles helped train future Olympic sprinters. Jackie Thompson competed in the 200-meter race in 1972. Dennis Mitchell ran in the 100-meter dash in 1988, 1992, and 1996.

Audrey also managed the U.S. women's track team. This team toured the Soviet Union and Germany in 1969. She also coached a team that competed against a Russian squad in Texas in 1974. In 1982, she founded the Martin Luther King Freedom Run in San Diego.

Awards and Recognition

Audrey Patterson was named the Woman Athlete of the Year in 1949. This award came from the Amateur Athletic Union. She held many important leadership roles. She was the First Vice President of the Amateur Athletic Union. She also directed the Pacific Southwest Association and the YMCA.

Audrey was a Governor of the Western District for the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women. She was also a member of the Urban League and the NAACP. She even joined the 1984 Olympic Spirit Team.

She received the San Diego Woman of the Year award. She also won the Press Club Headliner award. In 1978, she was honored by being inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. Soon after, she was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame at the Superdome.

Later Life

Audrey married Ronald Tyler. They settled down in San Diego. She was a mother to two sons, Herbert Hunter and Gerald Hunter. She also had two daughters, Cynthia Lowery and Andrea Nelson. Audrey Patterson passed away on August 23, 1996, in National City, California.

See also

In Spanish: Audrey Patterson para niños