Theresa Manuel facts for kids

Theresa Manuel was an amazing American athlete and coach. She was born on January 7, 1926, and passed away on November 21, 2016. Theresa was a talented basketball player and a track star. She even competed in the 1948 Olympics in London! She went to Middleton High School and Tuskegee Institute. After her sports career, she taught and coached at Middleton High School and Hillsborough High School for 38 years.

About Theresa Manuel

Theresa Manuel was born in Port Tampa, Florida, on January 7, 1926. She went to Middleton High School in Tampa. Later, she studied at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. After college, she returned to Florida to care for her mother. She lived in Florida her whole life and never married. Theresa passed away when she was 90 years old.

Theresa's Sports Career

Theresa Manuel was a fantastic basketball player at Middleton High School. She continued playing at Tuskegee, where she earned the nickname "Trick Shot." She once scored an amazing 57 points in a single basketball game at Tuskegee!

She also started running track in college. In 1948, she became the champion in the 50-meter hurdles indoors. During her time there, Tuskegee's track and basketball teams were undefeated.

The 1948 Olympics

In 1948, Theresa joined the Olympic team. She competed in the 80-meter hurdles, javelin throw, and the 4x440 yard relay at the Olympics in London. Theresa made history! She was the first African American woman to compete in the javelin at the Olympics. She was also the first black woman from Florida to compete in the Olympics.

Theresa did not win a medal herself. However, her teammate, Alice Coachman, won a gold medal in the high jump. Alice became the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

Theresa's Coaching Career

After graduating from Tuskegee, Theresa Manuel became a teacher. She also became a basketball coach at her old school, Middleton High School. She led the girls' basketball team to win three state championships!

When Middleton High School closed in 1971, she moved to Hillsborough High School. There, she coached basketball, swimming, and even dance teams. In 1975, she was named Hillsborough County Coach of the Year. The next year, in 1976, she became Florida Coach of the Year. She retired from coaching in 1988.

Awards and Recognition

Theresa Manuel received many honors for her achievements. In 1994, she became the first African-American woman to be included in the Tampa Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, the track at Middleton High School was named the Theresa A. Manuel Track and Field in her honor.