19 Inspirational Black Female Athletes Who Made (And Are Making) History

What does it mean to make history: Is it quantified in medals won, records broken, or the cumulative amount of titles fought for and defended? Is it retiring undefeated or being the first to break specific ground as an athlete or champion?

Well, for these Black female athletes it's a combination of all that and more. A selection of the Black excellence currently and formerly competing, these women range from equestrians to boxers, sprinters to swimmers, javelin throwers, tennis players, basketball players and myriad other sports. The one thing they all have in common? Their ground-shaking achievements. With October being Black History Month in the UK, there didn't seem to be anything to do but amplify the astronomical, history-making wins most of these women have worked the majority of their lives to achieve.

Scroll on for some serious, serious inspiration.

One of Britain's most treasured national treasures, Adams gained global fame as the first female boxer to become an Olympic Champion in 2012. After that, Adams doubled down, winning a second gold medal at Rio 2016. At one point, she was reigning Olympic, World and European Games champion at flyweight. Woah.

Retiring with an undefeated record the 37-year old won the Sports Personality Award at the British LGBT Awards in 2019. Recently, she shared with WH her home fitness routine and how she deals with the discrimination she faces as a Black, gay woman.

The first European to win an Olympic heptathlon, Lewis has been breaking barriers ever since. Most familiar now in her role as athletics presenter, before retirement Lewis took gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was crowned twice the Commonwealth Games champion, was the 1998 European Champion and won World Championship silver medals in 1997 and 1999. At one point she held British record for heptathlon points before being superseded by Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson, respectively.

When we say Sanderson is the OG, we're not kidding – she's the first Black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Ever. A javelin thrower and heptathlete, Sanderson is a six-time Olympian, taking gold in 1984.

A former world No. 1, there's yet to be a barrier Williams hasn't been able to work towards and eventually smash. With 23 Grand Slam titles under her belt and an eye-watering 319 weeks as the world's best, Williams holds the most Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, combined. Competing with her sister, Venus, the Williams duo picked up three gold doubles medals in consecutive Olympics, starting in 2000 in Sydney. In 2012, Williams won her first Olympic singles medal.

The fastest British woman in recorded history, Asher-Smith has made and is still making history. A South London native, the 25 year old has myriad medals to her name – ranging from 2019 200m World Champion to Olympic bronze in 2016 and gold at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships for the 4 x 100 metres relay. In July 2015 she became the first British woman to officially run the 100 metres under 11 seconds.

An English former rugby union player, Alphonsi holds multiple record-breaking accolades. Playing in two Rugby World Cups and sharing in a seventh successive Six Nations title (a record) and a sixth Grand Slam in seven years, Alphonsi also won the Pat Marshall award from the Rugby Union Writers' Club in 2011. She is currently the only black person (of a total 61) on the Rugby Football Union’s council.

What do Christine Ohuruogu, Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey all have in common? Well, they jointly hold the record for winning medals in the most successive global championships – the 400m runner picking up nine between the 2005 World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics. A former Olympic, World and Commonwealth champ, Ohuruogu has picked up over 26 medals in her career.

The first hijab-wearing jockey to compete in a British horse race, Mellah won the Magnolia Cup in August, 2019. Beating 25:1 odds to win on her mount Haverland, she rode to victory at the same time as studying for her A-Levels. In November 2019 Mellah won the Times Young Sportswoman of the Year award. Originally from Peckham the then 19-year old was introduced to riding after her mother saw a advertising leaflet in their local mosque.

Winner of the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2018, Adenegan is a British wheelchair athlete, competing at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, aged just 15, winning one silver and two bronze medals. Carrying on her successful streak, she set a new world record in 2018, sprinting to victory in the T34 100m at the London Müller Anniversary Games.

The first British woman to achieve a global 100m title in any age group, Philip took World Youth Championship gold aged just 16 in 2007. Part of the same 4 x 100 metres team as Dina Asher-Smith, Philip scored a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Wafula Strike, a British T54 athlete was introduced to wheelchair racing in 2002, originally competing for Kenya. After her successful citizenship application, she began to race for Britain, becoming a member of Team GB. Wafula Strike is currently the only UK Black board member across all major sports.

Alice Dearing, one of Great Britain's top female swimmer is currently Team GB's only Black swimmer. The 22-year old currently studies at Loughborough University with her sights on Tokyo 2020. Watch this space.

Fraser-Pryce is a six-time Olympic medallist, the first Caribbean woman to win gold in the 100m and one of only three women ever to defend a standing Olympic 100m title. Competing in the 100 and 200 metres, Fraser-Pryce is the only sprinter in history (of any gender) to win four World Championship 100 metre titles, as well as being the winner of more global titles than a single other female sprinter ever.

If there's an achievement Rudolph didn't smash, we're not aware of it. An American sprinter, Rudolph shot to fame during the televised 1960 Olympics, sharing the limelight with champs like Muhammad Ali. Crowned the fastest woman in the world in 1960, Rudolph was coined 'The Tornado, the fastest woman on earth', becoming the first American woman to sweep three gold medals at a single Olympic games. Having worn a leg brace until the age of 12, Rudolph overcame the effects of polio during her childhood. Diagnosed with brain cancer in July 1994, Rudolph passed away in November of the same year, aged 54.

Aged just 23, Biles is the most decorated American gymnast in history with a total 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. Picking up individual gold medals across three disciplines at the 2016 Rio Olympics, she is also a five-times over World all-round champion, with 27 gold medals from various competitions under her belt.

Retiring undefeated, Ali held the IBA, IWBF, WBC and WIBA female super-middleweight titles as well as one light heavyweight title. Originally a manicurist, Ali didn't follow in her famous father's footsteps immediately, initially starting out as a manicurist, owning her own until salon. However, from the age of 18, Ali donned the gloves and the rest, as they say, is history.

American artistic gymnast Douglas is the first African American to take the Olympic individual all-around champion title, winning the accolade at London 2012. Originally from Virgina, the young athlete has three Olympic and two World Championship gold medals to her name, as well as one silver World Championship medal.

Florence Griffith Joyner – nicknamed 'Flo-Jo' in the press – was, at one point, the fastest woman of all time, her 1988 Olympic 100m and 200m records obliterating previous times.

A US athlete with three Olympic golds, two silver medals, one gold World Championship medal and one silver achieved over her career, Griffith-Joyner died of an epileptic seizure aged 39.

The first player to be signed to the US WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association), Swoopes picked up three Olympic gold medals (Atlanta, Sydney, Athens) as well as an NCAA Championship and WNBA title over the course of her career. A women's basketball Hall-Of-Famer since 2017, Swoopes is also a three-time WNBA MVP.