2017 Hall of Fame Inductee
Twice an Olympian and multi-time American record holder in the sprint hurdles, Patty VanWolvelaere made her debut at the Olympic Games as a Renton, Washington high schooler in 1968. She clocked 10.5 in the 80m hurdles to set a new American record and place fourth overall. Four years later in Munich, VanWolvelaere broke the 100m hurdles American record in 13.26 during the semifinals. She would set the AR in the 100m hurdles seven times in total, capped by her 13.14 in 1978. In between those Olympic appearances, she sped to gold at the 1971 Pan American Games. She won four U.S. outdoor titles in 1971, 73-74 and '77, and was also a six-time national indoor gold medalist in the 60y hurdles, including four in a row from 1971-74. In college at USC, VanWolvelaere took back-to-back AIAW golds in the 100m hurdles in 1977-78 and represented the U.S. at the World University Games and '77 IAAF World Cup. After retiring from competition, Patty served as a fire engineer at the San Diego Fire Department for 24 years and has coached at Ramona High School in California since 2013.