Alice Coachman Davis, who made history as the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, died early Monday in south Georgia at the age of 90. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Davis’ death was confirmed by her daughter, Evelyn Jones.
Davis scored big in the high jump at the 1948 London Olympic games with a 1.68 meter record, a first for both America and the Olympic games.
Davis was inducted to the USA Track and Field Hall of fame in 1975, and was inducted to the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.
She spoke about receiving the honor, telling The Associated Press in a 2004 interview, “Going into the USOC Hall of Fame is as good as it gets.”
Davis, the only American woman who won gold in the 1948 Olympic games, was honored with a 175-mile motorcade in Georgia upon returning to the states from London. But due to segregation, her official audience was separated at her official ceremony in Albany. Davis retired after those games at the age of 25.
According to a secretary at Meadows Funeral Home in Albany, the funeral home will be handling Davis’ memorial proceedings, but plans have not yet been finalized.