Story By: Jayden Presley
As a finale for the Founders’ Day celebration, Olympian Vonetta Flowers gave a speech at the Dr. Fallin Lecture Series.
Flowers won a gold medal in 2002 for women’s bobsledding with her partner Jill Bakken. She became the first Black athlete to win gold in the Winter Olympics.
From Bessemer, Flowers started out as a sprinter and long jumper at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She attempted many tryouts for USA’s Olympic track team but emerged unsuccessful.
Flowers described that her husband joked she could join the bobsledding team. They saw a flyer to join as they left her final tryout for the USA track team.
“What started out as a joke turned out to be my road to gold,” said Flowers.
She refused to give up and found her opportunity to be part of the first USA Olympic women’s bobsledding team. After putting on 20 pounds of muscle and undergoing intensive training, Flowers made history at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
UM held the event at the Center of the Arts Discover Shelby Theatre. Dr. Wilson Fallin, Jr. attended and said the event was a tremendous experience. He is appreciative of the lecture series named in his honor.
“It’s been 28 years here teaching,” said Dr. Fallin. “I’m just excited and happy and thrilled to be here to experience this event this afternoon.”
To learn more about Flowers’ story, click here.
Vallo Vision News 