Alice Coachman

Alice Coachman was the first black woman to win a gold medal in track and field. She was initially reluctant to compete in the Olympic Games, but eventually agreed to attend the trials and broke the existing national high jump record, despite a back injury. She was also the only American woman to win a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. She became the first black female athlete to endorse and international consumer product when she was signed to promote Coca-Cola.

Picture from: https://www.biography.com/athlete/alice-coachman