Field of excellence
Sport
Athletes who broke barriers and redefined excellence.
On the timeline
- February 13, 1920The Negro National League
Rube Foster organizes the first lasting Black professional baseball league.
- June 22, 1937Joe Louis becomes heavyweight champion
Louis's reign makes him a global symbol of Black achievement.
- August 28, 1950Althea Gibson breaks the tennis color line
Gibson becomes the first Black player at the US National Championships.
- September 7, 1960Wilma Rudolph wins three Olympic golds
Rudolph becomes the fastest woman in the world in Rome.
- February 25, 1964Cassius Clay wins the heavyweight title
The future Muhammad Ali stuns the world and soon becomes a global icon.
- April 18, 1966Bill Russell, first Black NBA head coach
Russell breaks the coaching color line in major American sports.
- April 13, 1997Tiger Woods wins the Masters
Woods becomes the first Black golfer to win the Masters, in record fashion.
- August 16, 2016Simone Biles dominates the Rio Olympics
Biles wins four golds and cements herself as one of the greatest gymnasts ever.