Born February 18, 1958, Dallas, Texas.

The premier women's high jumper in the United States for a decade from 1979 to 1989, Dorothy Louise Ritter surprised the world by winning the gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. She beat an outstanding field, including the present world record holder, but Ritter's credentials were impressive in their own right. Starting in 1979, she raised the American record from 6-4 1/4 to the present mark of 6-8. She was on three Olympic teams, including 1988, and was third at the 1983 World Outdoor Championships. In addition, she won 10 national championships, indoors and outdoors, and was world ranked nine times, including her best placing of second in 1988. A graduate of Texas Woman's University where she was the national collegiate champion, she was also one of the nation's best high school jumpers, clearing 5-11 1/2 at Red Oak (Texas) High School in 1976.