Let the games begin! The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are up and running, and several Nashville-based athletes are competing — and winning. But Nashville’s extraordinary Olympic history started a long time ago.
Today, we explore the past and present history of Olympians from Nashville. Who was John Noel, Sr., the first Olympian born in Tennessee to bring home a gold medal in 1924? And how did the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles, the 1960 all-Black women’s track team, find Olympic glory despite turbulent times at home?
This episode was produced by Khalil Ekulona and Mary Mancini.
Today’s guests:
John Noel lll | Grandson of John Noel, Sr., first Tennessean to bring home the gold
Matthew Gailani | Curator, Tennessee State Museum
Aime Card | Author, The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State; Editor, Pangyrus
Coach Chandra Cheeseborough | Olympic medalist; TSU Tigerbelle; TSU Director of Track and Field
Further in:
WPLN | Your curated guide to the Tennesseans competing in the Paris Olympics
NashVillager Podcast | Nashvillians at the Olympic swimming trials
Tennessean | He was Tennessee’s first Olympic gold medalist — and he did it 100 years ago in Paris
Tennessee State Musuem | TSU Tigerbelles: The Road to Rome
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