Aretha Thurmond

Sport: Track and Field

Nation: United States of America

DOB: August 14, 1976

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Career Highlights: Thurmond's track and field career started with a lost bet with her physical education teacher, requiring her to join the track team over softball. It was not a bad loss for Thurmond, as by the end of her high school career she had racked up three state discus titles and was just getting started dominating the sport. Thurmond has been a part of five world championship teams and four Olympic teams. She competed in her first Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta. She won her first gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1999 and repeated the feat in 2003. She is a four-time USA outdoor champion and a three-time runner-up as well. Even after giving birth to her son in 2007, Thurmond was able to return to competition quickly and earn her place on the 2008 team for the Beijing Olympics. Thurmond will look to improve her legacy and win her first Olympic medal in London.

Olympic History: 2008,2004,1996