Vonetta Flowers personal information:
Vonetta Flowers was born on October 29, 1973 in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1992, Vonetta graduated from PD Jackson Olin High School. She was the first person in her family to go to college. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is married to Johnny Mack Flowers, who is also her coach. On February 19, 2002, Flowers won the Gold Medal for Bobsled and on August 30 of that same year, he delivered twins, Jorden Maddox (hearing impaired) and Jaden Michael.
Vonetta flowers best known for:
Vonetta Flowers was the first black athlete (male or female), from any country, to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. At the 2002 Summer Olympics in Salt Lake City, Vonetta and Jill Bakken led the United States to an Olympic gold medal, ending the United States’ 46-year medal drought by sledding. The time of the team of 2 bobsled women was 1 minute and 48 seconds.
Vonetta Flowers Medals and Awards:
- 2002 Olympic Tobogganing Champion, with partner Jill Bakken, becoming the first black athlete to win a Winter Olympic gold medal
- Selected with Jill Bakken to carry the Olympic flag at the 2002 Closing Ceremonies
- Recipient of USOC’s Team of the Year 2002;
- US Olympic Spirit Award and selected for People’s “50 Most Beautiful People” edition
- Finished fifth in the World Championship with teammate Jean Prahm (Racine), 2005
For a more detailed view of the prizes Vonetta Flowers, visit the Olympic site.
Beginning of Vonetta Flowers’ athletic career:
Vonetta Flowers was recruited, at the age of nine, from a group of Jonesboro Elementary School boys by coach DeWitt Thomas, who was looking for the fastest runners. For the next ten years, Vonetta won almost every race in which she participated. During high school, he participated in track and field, volleyball, and basketball.
After 5 surgeries in eight years, Vonetta had a disappointing performance at the 2000 Olympic Trials and decided to abandon her sports career.
The road to the 2002 Olympics for Vonetta Flowers:
Two days after the disappointing 2000 Olympic trials, Vonetta’s husband, Johnny, saw a flyer urging track and field athletes to try out America’s bobsleigh team. Vonetta was not interested, but decided to accompany her athletic husband as he tried to join the team. Shortly after testing began, Johnny pulled on his hamstrings. Vonetta decided to help him live his dream by completing the six-item test. She immediately made the team.
More about Vonetta flowers:
Vonetta Flowers quickly became the # 1 brake woman in America. At the end of her rookie season, Vonetta and her former teammate, Bonny Warner, ranked second in the United States and third in the world. But it was his new partner, Jill Bakken, who made history with Vonetta by winning the Gold Medal in the inaugural women’s Olympic bobsled event. Now Vonetta Flowers is back for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
Interesting Facts About Vonetta Flowers:
- Vonetta is the first person from Alabama to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.
- Vonetta started bobsleighing when she was 26 years old.
- While in college, Vonetta won 35 lecture titles and victories at Penn Relays and The Olympic Festival.
- Vonetta was the University of Alabama / Birmingham, the first seven-time All-American.
- Vonetta would love to compete in the 2008 Olympics as a gymnast. We will have to wait and see about that!
Vonetta Flowers personal biography:
Vonetta Flowers has printed her personal story of how she got to the Olympics in her first book: Running On Ice: The Overcoming Faith Of Vonetta Flowers.
What is the sled?
Sledding began in the late 1880s in Albany, New York. It first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1928. The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) is the governing body of the sled and skeleton (an early version of the luge).
There are two types of athletes: drivers and pushers. Vonetta Flowers is a pusher or brakeman and sits in the back of the 450-pound sled. She is responsible for pulling the brake (a metal claw that digs into the ice) after the sled crosses the finish line.
More information:
Some honors and facts about Vonetta Flowers:
- She was named one of the 50 Most Inspirational African Americans by Essence magazine .
- Vondetta was named one of the 57 most intriguing black Ebony magazine.
- Flowers was among the 50 most beautiful people in People magazine.
Visit Vonetta Flowers to read more about this amazing woman and athlete. You will find more information about his deep faith and personal life on his website.
