To this day, she remains the only American woman toeverearn Olympic gold in the event.
Its really kind of overwhelming.
Responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Madeline Manning Mims, women’s 800 meter final, Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games
She was crying and they were in each others arms.
Mims:I didnt think of it [as significant] at the time.
A U.S. diplomat introduced us and he said, “I know very well who you are.”
Mims (left) with fellow Olympian Mary Wineberg at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Championships
I thought he was just being nice, but then he started sharing with me.
[At the time, the 800 meters was considered a long-distance event.]
Thats when it really hit me.
Before then, I had no idea the broad impact of winning that gold medal.
Mims:I was a very sickly little girl.
I hated getting that shot, so after I while, I started keeping the sickness to myself.
I would quietly throw up and then continue doing what I was doing.
I forced myself to push beyond the sickness.
I didnt realize it at the time, but that was making me stronger and stronger.
I learned to overcome.
Mims:I was really disciplined.
I always did more than was asked of me.
After track and field practice, I would stay and do a few more runs by myself.
I did the same thing with volleyball.
I would stay for 2 to 3 hours after school and practice my serve over and over.
She said, “You are ready for that gold medalnow go out and get it.”
I stood there trembling and said, “Yes maam.”
He was from my hometown of Cleveland and had heard about me.
He gave me a hug and told me to go get the gold medal.
It was a multi-faith team.
Mims:There have been so many changeseating habits, training, the types of clothing and shoes.
Also, the track itself is different.
But the largest difference is the finances.
The first time I got some bang out of per diem, it was $7 a day.
Now the sport has become a vocation and thats how athletes look at it.
I also do weight training, water workouts, and jazzercise tapes.
Mims:In my dresser drawer.
I want to pass it down to my family line.
