• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

International Women’s Day Salutes Wyomia Tyus

You are here: Home / Witty / Commentary / International Women’s Day Salutes Wyomia Tyus
16
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

March 8, 2011 by Jimson Lee Leave a Comment

Last Updated on March 8, 2017 by Jimson Lee

Today is March 8, which means we recognize International Women’s Day (IWD) around the world with 2011 being the 100th anniversary.

This year, I want to recognize Wyomia Tyus.

But first, a little history class (please, no Sister Mary Elephant jokes).

Usain Bolt is famous for being super relaxed and dancing and playing to the crowd BEFORE he races.  In fact, we saw Asafa Powell change his demeanor at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin which helped him relax and win a bronze.  Instead of staying focused, not speaking to anyone, and staring at the ground, these two Jamaicans were high-fiving, chest thumping and playing to the crowd.

But before Usain Bolt came along, it was actually a WOMAN who started this ritual of the pre-race dance routine.

Long before Carl Lewis became the first man to win back to back 100 meter Olympic titles (and you can contest that as his silver from 1988 was bumped up to Gold following the Ben Johnson disqualification), that feat was accomplished by a women.

Wyomia Tyus won the 100 meter Gold medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a 19 year old and repeated that victory in the 1968 Mexico Olympics.  She also added the 4×100 meter relay Gold to her collection.

[Tweet “Before Usain Bolt, it was actually a WOMAN who started the ritual of the pre-race dance routine”]

She came from the famed Tennessee State University “Tigerbells” Track and Field program.

What people don’t remember is she did a pre-race dance in 1968.  The hit song at the time was “Tighten Up” by a Houston, Texas based R&B vocal group called Archie Bell & the Drells.  It reached #1 on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts in the spring of 1968.

See also  Wyomia Tyus: The Famous Pre-Race Dance to Out-Psych Everyone

She did her funky dance before getting into the starting blocks in Mexico City (I know I have that video somewhere).  It helped that the first four rows near the starting line were Americans and had bongo drums and started playing this song.    Ha!  And you thought Gabe Jennings invented this?

There was immense pressure for Wyomia Tyus because she was the defending champion and no one, male or female, had ever won consecutive Golds in the 100 meters.

Australia’s Raylene Boyle, who would go on to stellar career after her 4th place finish in Mexico (triple gold in 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games, along with a 400m Gold in the 400m in 1982), admitted a year later when she met with Wyomia Tyus that her pre-race funky moves psyched her out.

In that race, USA’s Barbara Ferrell was 2nd and Irena Szewinska finished 3rd.  With two heavily bandaged legs, Chi Cheng of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) finished 7th in that race.

In 1980, Wyomia Tyus was inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and in 1985, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Here is a tribute to Wyomia Tyus (Video here):

Category iconCommentary,  Life & Culture,  Olympic History,  Track & Field,  Videos Tag iconBarbara Ferrell,  Chi Cheng,  Irena Szewinska,  Raylene Boyle,  Wyomia Tyus

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy