Madeline Manning-Mims

One of the first female American middle distance stars of world-class caliber, Madeline Manning-Mims was the 1968 Olympic 800m champion at Mexico City while attending Tennessee State University. She was the first African-American woman to compete in the 800m and remains the only American woman to have won gold in the event.

At 3 years old, she was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and not expected to live. She recovered, but was constantly sick until she was a teenager. Sick of always being sick, she stopped reporting her illness to anyone.

In 1965, while a student at John Hay High School in Cleveland, she won her first national title in the 440-yard run at the girls' AAU championships and was named to the U.S. team that competed in meets against the USSR, Poland and West Germany. From 1967 to 1980, Manning-Mims won 10 national indoor and outdoor titles and set numerous American records as well. After setting a national record of 2:02.3 in 1967, she improved on that record three times, eventually running 1:57.9 in 1976. She set three world indoor records, culminating with a best of 2:02.0 in the 800m in 1969. Her 1968 Olympic victory was unexpected but decisive, as she won by more than 10 meters in an Olympic record of 2:00.9. She also was a member of the 1972 and 1976 Olympic teams and in 1980, at the age of 32, won the U.S. Olympic Trials. Only the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games kept her out of her fourth Olympiad. Coming out of retirement three times during her career, she also won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympic Games as a member of the 4x400m relay team. She was the 1975 Pan-American champion and in 1966 won the 400 at the World University Games.

Among her many honors and awards, Manning-Mims was named North American Athlete of the Year in 1967 and 1969 and was named to the All-Time, All-Star, Indoor Track and Field Team in 1982. She was inducted to the National and Olympic Halls of Fame in 1984.

Mims is founder and president of the United States Council for Sports Chaplaincy and served as chaplain at the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Manning-Mims is an author, international speaker and contemporary Gospel recording artist. She is also one of three chaplains for the Tulsa Shock professional women’s basketball team. She and her family have a ministry through Sports and the Arts known as AMBASSADORSHIP, INC. where they reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Events
800 m - 1:57.90

Records Held
Olympic Record: 800 m - 2:00.90
American Record: 800 m - 1:57.90

Championships
1968 Olympics: 800 m - 2:00.90 (1st)
1972 Olympics: 1,600 m relay (2nd)
1966 World University Games: 400 m (1st)
1965 AAU: 440 yd. (1st)
1975 Pan-Am Games: 400 m (1st)

Occupations
Gospel singer
Lay preacher
Motivational speaker