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1939-
Only American woman to have competed on five Olympic track and field teams

Sports were White's ticket to freedom.  AP

At a very early age, Willye White learned about hard work and how to develop mental toughness. Raised by her grandparents in the Mississippi Delta, she picked cotton in the summers to earn money to help out her family. At the age of 10, she discovered her talent for running and jumping. Athletics became her ticket to freedom -- and what a ride that ticket provided: White was a member of 39 international track and field teams, and competed in 150 nations. At age 16, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic team at the 1956 Melbourne Games, where she won a silver medal in the long jump, becoming the first American female ever to medal in that event. She was a member of the next four U.S. Olympic teams as well, winning another silver at the 1964 Tokyo Games in the 4x100-meter relay.

During the course of her lengthy career, White was the American record holder in the long jump for 16 years. She was also a member of three U.S. 4x100 world-record relay teams. In the years since she retired from competition, White has dedicated herself to helping others. In her efforts to improve the lives of the underprivileged, White has worked as a coach, a lecturer and an administrator. In 1991, she established the Willye White Foundation in Chicago to help children develop self-esteem and become productive citizens.

They Said It: "Before my first Olympics, I thought the whole world consisted of cross burnings and lynchings. After 1956, I found there were two worlds, Mississippi and the rest of the world. The Olympic Movement taught me not to judge a person by the color of their skin, but by the contents of their hearts. I am who I am because of my participation in sports." -- White

-- Susan Brody

Athletes were selected by Sports Illustrated For Women, Sports Illustrated and CNN/SI editors, writers and correspondents who considered the athletes' on-field performance and achievements, plus their contributions to women's sports. Because athletic achievement was a key criterion, women whose contributions were made solely in administration and coaching are not included.

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