http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes AfricanView images of famous female African American athletes. en Copyright 2013, History.com Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-20T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo1 Althea Gibson (1927-2003) poses with a bouquet of roses, a pair of tennis raquets and a trophy after her victory in the French Championships (later the French Open), Paris, France, May 1956. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo2 Althea Gibson was the first African American woman to win the Wimbeldon tennis tournament. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo3 Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) crossing the finish line to win one of her three gold medals at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Rudolph was the first American woman to win three track-and-field gold medals in a single olympics. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo4 Alice Coachman (1923-) was the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Coachman won the high jump at the 1948 London Olympics. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo5 The winners of the Women's 400 meter relay celebrate their victory at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Left to right: Catherine Hardy of Georgia; Barbara Jones, of Chicago; Mae Faggs of Bayside, NY; and Janet Moreau of Pawtucket, RI. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo6 Florence Griffith Joyner (1959-1998), nicknamed FloJo, won three gold medals at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. FloJo set world records in the 100 meter and 200 meter distances that have stood since 1988. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo7 Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1962-) won Olympic gold medals in the heptathalon in 1988 and 1992 making her the first ever athlete back to back Olympic heptathalons. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo8 Debbie Thomas won the bronze medal in ladie's figure skating at the 1988 Olympics. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo9 In 2002 Vonetta Flowers became the first black athlete to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympics. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo10 With her bronze medal floor routine at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Dominique Dawes became the first African American to win an individual event medal in gymnastics. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo11 Maritza Correia was the first African American woman to make the US Olympic Women's Swim Team. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo12 Laila Ali, the daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, is now a successful boxer in her own right. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo13 Lisa Leslie (1972-) a nationally recognized college and WNBA basketball player, was the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo13 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo14 Briana Scurry was the goalie for the US Women's Soccer team when the won the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo14 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo15 Venus Williams celebrates her semi-final victory over Maria Sharapova at the 2005 Wimbeldon Championships. Williams went on to beat Lindsay Davenport to win the championship. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo15 http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo16 Serena Williams clutches the trophy after winning the 2009 Australian Open. She beat Russian player Dinara Safina in the championship match. http://www.history.com/photos/black-women-athletes/photo16