Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Former Tennessee State Tigerbelle used endurance well

Photo: Madeline Manning Mims, Ordained Minister, Motivational Speaker and Gospel Singer. Served as a volunteer Chaplain for the U.S. Olympic team in five Olympics since the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea.

After quiet start, Manning Mims made big impact.

Madeline Manning Mims escaped the ghetto by taking one step at a time. If that sounds kind of slow and methodical, it wasn't. In fact, it was Manning Mims' incredibly fast feet that carried her from an impoverished childhood to Tennessee State University where she became a national record-setter, and then on to the Olympics where she was a gold and silver medal-winner.

On Feb. 29, 2008, Manning Mims will join 10 other inductees being enshrined in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame during an annual banquet at the Renaissance Hotel. "When I was 16 years old they put me on the U.S. National Team and over to Russia, Poland and West Germany I go,'' Manning Mims said.

CONTINUE READING THIS GREAT STORY BY CLICKING ON THE BLOG TITLE.

Madeline Manning Mims has been a member of four Olympic track teams (1968, 1972, 1976and 1980) and served as captain in '72, '76 and '80. She is the first and only American female to win an Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter event, accomplishing this feat in Mexico City in 1968. In addition, she won a silver medal as part of the 4 x 400-meter relay team, with teammates Mable Fergerson, Kathy Hammond, and Cheryl Toussaint, at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

Manning Mims, a student at Tennessee State from 1968 to 1972, was a consistent winner during her 16-year athletic career.

Manning Mims was inducted in the USATF Hall of Fame in 1984. Here is a link to her Hall of Fame bio and the Olympic and American records held.

Please click here: http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=100

Manning Mims has an accomplished daughter, Lana Mims, currently an All-Big 12 star in the long jump, 60m, 100m, 200m, and 4x100 meters sprints at the University of Missouri. The sophomore is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Aerospace ... active as a missionary, visiting Guyana, Suriname, and Belize ... also is a drummer and percussionist.

Lana was a three-time Oklahoma High School champion, winning long jump titles in 2005 and 2006, adding a high jump title in 2006 ... holds the state's second-longest long jump mark all-time and broke the state's 4A record in the event.

Other recent Manning Mims Articles: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2008/01/turning_gold_into_inspiration.html

No comments: