For centuries my ancestors have been doing track and field, among the many incredible sports legends there are two that stand out the most. They are my heros, and everyone should know about them and their accomplishments.

Allyson Felix is a famous African American women’s track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter sprints. In 2012 she was an Olympic champion,  a two time  silver medalist. Felix was born on November 18,1985 in Los Angeles, California.  She grew up in Santa Carlita Valley, California. Coming from a Christian family, she went a Baptist school. Felix also did summer track, as well as the Junior Olympics. She tried out for track her freshman year in high school, and she won 9th place in the 200 meters at the CIF California State meet. At the age of 18 she won a silver medal at the Olympic games in Athens. She has a total of nine Olympics medals: six gold and three silver. Today Allyson Felix is 35 years of age, happily married to her husband Kenneth. She recently gave birth to a baby girl name Camryn, and they a have beautiful home together located in Los, Angeles California. She studies at the University of  Southern California.

Known as the fastest woman in the world, Florence Joyner (aka”Flo-Jo”) is another famous female African American track and field runner. The fastest woman of all time, her world  records were set in 1988. Flo-Jo was born on December 21,1959 in Little Rock, California. She then relocated to Los Angeles, where she attended Jordan High School. In elementary school she joined the Sugar Ray Robinson Organization,  running track on the weekends. Flo-Jo won the Jesse Owens award two years in a row. She attended college in California at the University of North Ridge. Flo-Jo was a ten time gold medalist, her specialty being the 100 meter and 200 meter dash, and her records for those races still stand to this day. Flo- Jo was know for  her long, red acrylic nails. She was married to AL Joyner and on November 15, 1990 gave birth  a baby girl named Mary Joyner. Tragically on September 21,1998 Florence Griffith passed away due to epilepsy at the age of 38. Flo Jo’s legend shall live on.

These two amazing ladies are idols for many. Personally, I have been running track since I was five. Track and field is a family tradition; everyone in my family ran track:my mom, dad, and now even my brother recently got a scholarship for track and field at the University Of Virginia State. Aside from any personal interest I may take in these two heroes, it’s so important to talk to African American children about accomplished women in the field of sports.  For so long,  woman have been seen differently, as if they can’t do what men do. So this generation needs to understand how important it is to make a difference in this world and actually do something in life, especially for women. There will always be doubters, and what parents need to teach their children is that it’s important to prove them wrong.  These two amazing African American women prove that a person can do anything they put their mind to, no matter gender, race, age or anything else.