In 1908, John Baxter Taylor became the first African American to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Unfortunately, Taylor died of typhoid pneumonia later that year.
Cullen Jones won a gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay in 2008.
Reggie Walker.
win an olympic gold medal
Cullen Jones- Mens 4 x 100 relay team, 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics was the second african-american to win a gold medal in swimming. The first was Anthony Ervin, winning the 50-meter freestyle in a tie with Gary Hall Jr. in the Athens games in 2000.
Alice coachman
Anthony Ervin was the first African American swimmer to win a Gold medal.
Wilma Rudolph in 1960.
Vonetta Flowers.
John Baxter Taylor .
History is made everyday. In 1908 John Baxter Taylor was the first African American to earn a gold medal in the Olympics.
The first athlete representing South Africa to win an Olympic gold medal was Reggie Walker who won the 100 meter dash event at the 1908 Games in London.