12 Facts About Wyomia Tyus

Wyomia Tyus continued to compete in the 60 yard dash up until 1982.

Wyomia Tyus went on to coach at Beverly Hills High School, and was a founding member of the Women's Sports Foundation.

In 1976, Wyomia Tyus was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1980, Wyomia Tyus was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Wyomia Tyus grew up in a primarily white neighborhood and became aware of her race and of racial segregation at an early age.

Wyomia Tyus was forced to take an hour bus ride to school each day, in spite of the fact that there was a white school within walking distance.

Racial divide in her neighborhood prevented Wyomia Tyus from playing with the white girls that lived nearby and as the nearest black family lived almost a mile away, Wyomia Tyus spent most of her time playing sports with her brothers and the white boys in the neighborhood.

Wyomia Tyus began training with TSU coach Ed Temple, but poor grades, study habits, and a general lack of interest in classes nearly derailed Wyomia Tyus's chances to continue her training and attend the 1964 Olympics.

Wyomia Tyus has credited her training with Coach Temple as helping with her development and success in sporting, academic, and professional life, especially as he highlighted the struggle that comes with being a black athlete and having to work harder to receive positive recognition.

In December 1968, Wyomia Tyus moved with her then boyfriend from Georgia to California, where she worked as a substitute teacher.

Wyomia Tyus married her boyfriend Art Simburg in 1969 and held multiple jobs until becoming a teacher in 1971.

Wyomia Tyus left this job within a year in order to stay at home with her first child.