2002 Hall of Fame Inductee
One of America's best and most versatile women sprinters of all time, Gwen Torrence won five medals at two Olympics and earned top U.S. ranking in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. A three-time state champion at Columbia High School, Torrence moved on to the University of Georgia in 1983. There, she became a 12-time All-American and four-time NCAA champion. She won gold medals at the 1987 Pan-American Games and World University Games. At the 1988 Olympics, she was a finalist in both the 100 and 200 meters. Her greatest feats lay ahead. At the 1991 World Outdoor Championships, she was silver medalist in the 100m and 200m. A year later, at the Barcelona Olympics, she won gold medals in the 200 meters and 4x100m relay and a silver medal in the 4x400m relay. She won gold medals in the 4x400m relay at the 1993 World Outdoor Championships and in the 100m at the 1995 World Outdoors. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, she won a gold medal in the 4x100m relay and a bronze in the 100 meters. Torrence was also the U.S. indoor 60m champion five times and 200m champ twice. Track and Field News ranked her #1 in the world at 200 in 1994 and 1995. On four occasions, she was ranked #1 in the U.S. at 100m (1991-92-94-95) and she was ranked #1 in the world in the 200m in 1992, 1994 and 1995. Showing outstanding versatility, Torrence was ranked #1 nationally in 1991 in the 400 meters. In 2000 she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Events 100 m - 10.82 200 m - 21.72 400 m - 49.64 Championships 1988 Olympics: 100 m (5th) 1988 Olympics: 200 m (6th) 1992 Olympics: 100 m (4th) 1992 Olympics: 200 m (1st) 1992 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st) 1992 Olympics: 1,600 m relay (2nd) 1996 Olympics: 100 m (3rd) 1996 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st) 1991 World Outdoors: 100 m (2nd) 1991 World Outdoors: 200 m (2nd) 1993 World Outdoors: 1,600 m relay (1st) 1995 World Outdoors: 100 m (1st) Occupations Hair Stylist