Gwendolyn Lenna Torrence (born June 12, 1965) is a retired American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist. She was born in Decatur, Georgia. She attended Columbia High School and the University of Georgia. She was offered a scholarship because of her athletic abilities, but she said she wasn't interested because she initially wanted to become a beautician. From the persuasion from her coaches and family, she chose to enroll to the University of Georgia. In the early 1990s, Gwen Torrence was one of the best sprinters in the world, winning five Olympic medals, and three gold. Torrence won medals at the Summer Olympics, Outdoor & Indoor World Championships, Pan American Games, Goodwill Games, and World University Games. In 1988, Torrence achieved a tie with Evelyn Ashford in the 55 m race at the U.S. national indoor championships. She also had many battles both on the track and in the press with Florence Griffith Joyner. In the 200 m at the 1995 World Championships, she was disqualified for stepping out of her lane after finishing first. This left her idol, Merlene Ottey, to be promoted to first place. In 2000 she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. International competitions National titles USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 100 m: 1995 200 m: 1988, 1993, 1995 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships 55 m: 1989 60 m: 1994, 1995, 1996 200 m: 1994, 1996 Personal bests Outdoor 100-meter dash – 10.82 (1994) 200-meter dash – 21.72 (1992) 400-meter dash – 49.64 (1992) Indoor 50-meter dash – 6.07 (1996) 55-meter dash – 6.56 (1987) 60-meter dash – 7.02 (1996) References External links 1965 births Living people People from Decatur, Georgia Track and field athletes from Atlanta American female sprinters African-American female track and field athletes Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Pan American Games track and field athletes for the United States Pan American Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States Athletes (track and field) at the 1987 Pan American Games World Athletics Championships athletes for the United