Being a Black woman athlete means so much more than just competing in a sport. It requires perseverance through challenges and mental fortitude through criticism your non-Black counterparts won't face.

As we continue to give today’s Black female athletes their well deserved flowers while they are still here, there are those who paved the way for them that we should also continue to honor.

Rudolph overcame polio and other serious illnesses as a child that left doctors saying she would never walk again. She was the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics in 1960.

Flo-Jo is the fastest woman to ever live as she set the world records for the 100m and 200m sprints in 1988 that remain unbeaten. She is also known for iconic fashion that she held true to despite criticism.

In 1948, Coachman became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the high jump event. She was also the first Black female athlete to endorse a consumer brand (Coca-Cola).

Felix is the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history with 11 medals. She's also renowned in World Athletics Championship history with 20 medals.

Gibson paved the way for Black women in tennis and in golf. She was the first Black athlete to play at Wimbledon, win a Grand Slam title, win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, as well as to compete in the LPGA.

Swoopes is known as the “female Michael Jordan” as she is the first player signed by the WNBA and a three-time MVP. She also won four WNBA championships and three Olympic gold medals.

Leslie was the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game and still is a legend in women’s basketball with four consecutive Olympic gold medals, three WNBA MVP titles, a BIG3 Coach of the Year award and more.

At the 2016 Olympics, Simone Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic swimming gold medal in the 100m free. She continues to advocate for Black swimmers’ place in the sport.

Thomas defied odds and became the first Black woman to win the World Figure Skating Championship, a U.S. Figure Skating Championships title and a medal at the Winter Olympics.

NASCAR is a predominately white and male sport. However, Brehanna Daniels is the first Black female pit crew member and tire changer in NASCAR as well as a part of the first female pit crew duo.

Shields is a boxing/MMA legend across race and gender as the first American boxer (male or female) to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and to hold all four major world titles in boxing.

Click the link below to get fashion inspiration from Black celebrities.