Tigerbelle: The Wyomia Tyus Story

A timely memoir about world record–breaking Tyus's 1964 and 1968 Olympic victories, amid the turbulence of the 1960s, along with contemporary reflections.

“Tyus proves as winning a storyteller as she was a runner . . . The ‘a’ in Wyomia is silent, but thankfully, the woman who owns that name is not.” —New York Times Book Review

“Tigerbelle offers a fresh perspective on the history of women’s sports in the United States. From her one-of-a-kind accomplishments on the track to her contributions to equal pay and publicity for women through the Women’s Sports Foundation, Wyomia Tyus has earned her place in the pantheon of American sports sheroes and heroes.” —Billie Jean King

The latest from Akashic’s Edge of Sports imprint, curated by Dave Zirin.

In 1968, Wyomia Tyus became the first person ever to win gold medals in the 100-meter sprint in two consecutive Olympic Games, a feat that would not be repeated for twenty years or exceeded for almost fifty. Tigerbelle chronicles Tyus’s journey from her childhood as the daughter of a tenant dairy farmer through her Olympic triumphs to her post-competition struggles to make a way for herself and other female athletes.

The Hidden Figures of sport, Tigerbelle helps to fill the gap currently occupying Black women’s place in American history, providing insight not only on what it takes to be a champion but also on what it means to stake out an identity in an often hostile world. Tyus’s exciting and uplifting story offers inspiration to readers from all walks of life.

With a foreword by MSNBC host Joy Reid, and an afterword by sportswriter Dave Zirin.