Gwen Torrence still showing her style

Published by ajc.com on July 26th, 2016

In July and August 1996, the world sent its finest athletes to Atlanta. Some athletes came as familiar names from familiar nations. Others had toiled in obscurity. Each came proudly to Atlanta, and Atlanta received them in the same manner. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of those Summer Games, the AJC offers 20 memorable athletes and performances.

The sixth in the series: Gwen Torrence, from East Lake Meadows to Olympic gold.

When Gwen Torrence was a child growing up in the East Lake Meadows public-housing project not far from downtown Atlanta, she held dreams that had nothing to do with the Olympics. And even when she was competing internationally, including three Olympics, she had a vision beyond the track