Athletes: Anita DeFrantz

Womanica

Anita DeFrantz (1954-present) captained the U.S. women’s rowing team and was part of the team that won a bronze medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games – the first games where women’s rowing was introduced. After her athletic career, she went on to become the first African American — and first American woman — to represent the U.S. on the International Olympic Committee.

For Further Reading:

• My Olympic Life
• Former Olympian Anita DeFrantz Continues to Serve as an Advocate for Athletes
• Anita L. DeFrantz, America’s powerful Olympic presence

This month we're celebrating the women who performed physical and mental feats in sports. They overcame societal barriers, personal struggles, and fierce competition to pursue their dreams of glory. We're talking about Athletes.

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