I love the Olympics and although I am a track girl, I still find the Winter Games special. In the summer Olympics 2016, I was proud of my country and the athletes who represented America. African Americans are still making history and in the winter Olympics, we are thriving. Can you imagine living in a time where you weren’t allowed to play sports because of your color or gender? We have come so far, but we still have work to do.

Before there was Michael Johnson-former world record holder of the 200 and 400 meter dash, before Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), and before Vonetta flowers-first black female to win gold in bob sledding, there was John Taylor. The godfather of the 400 meter dash. John Taylor was the first African American to win gold in the Olympics. He was also the first African American to represent the United States. Standing at 5’11 and weighing 160lbs, Taylor won the gold in the 4 by 4 relay. Taylor ran third leg with a split time of 49.8 seconds.

You haven't heard of Taylor? Don’t feel bad because neither did I. Taylor won gold in the Olympics five years before Jesse Owens was born. Taylor attended Central High School in Philadelphia, PA. Central High is the second oldest public high school in the country, known as a track and field powerhouse. In 1902, Taylor was the best quarter mile in the nation. .

After high school, he went to Brown Prep where he set a national high school record of 50.60 seconds in the quarter mile. In the fall of 1903, John Taylor entered the University of Penn, where he set another record in the quarter mile. Taylor also was a member of the historical black fraternity Sigma Pi Phi Boule. An exclusive fraternity that would later include member Doctor Martin Luther King. In 1906 the University hired legendary track Coach Mike Murphy, Taylor hit his stride.

In 1907, Taylor beat his own record in the IC4A Championships Games running a blistering 48.80. The team won the IC4A championship. In the 1907 AAU Indoor championships in Norfolk, VA, Taylor set a new record of 48.35 seconds. During the race, Taylor was deliberately fouled by another competitor. The National Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, Taylor “refused to fight back. And after winning the race , was loudly applauded that hundreds of Southern gentlemen rushed up and shook him by the hand. An almost unheard of thing for a white man in the south.” After that incident Taylor became the gentleman.

AFter the IC4A. Taylor began training for the Olympics. During the the Olympic Trials, Taylor qualified in both the quarter mile and the 4 by 4 relay. The games held in London changed the world. Although, Taylor didn't place in the quarter mile, Taylor still had an outstanding race. London officials, called the quarter mile race early due to an illegal foul. Officals decided to rerun the event the next day, but Taylor and his teammates boycotted. The medal went to English man Haswell. Despite the adversity, Taylor and his teammates secured a gold medal in the mile relay. Taylor became the first black athlete in history to win a medal (gold) in a single event. Taylor's historic success was short lived. A few months after the 1908 Olympics, Taylor died of typhoid fever at age 26. Thousands attended his funeral including clergymen, teammates, and friends. John Taylor's left his mark on everyone. During his career Taylor earned 70 medals. Here’s to Taylor's black excellence.