Lacey O'Neal

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameLeahseneth "Lacey"•O'Neal
Used nameLacey•O'Neal
Born30 March 1944 in Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Measurements170 cm / 62 kg
AffiliationsSports International Track Club
NOC United States

Biography

Lacey O’Neal began sprinting and hurdling in her native Hawai’i, though her team had little funds. They ran on a grass or dirt track and had difficulty going to meets on the mainland. She managed to make two Olympic teams, in 1964 and 1972, and also competed for the US twice in dual meets in 1961 against the Soviet Union and West Germany. She attended the University of Hawai’i and ran for Sports International Track Club.

O’Neal is best remembered for coining the word, “girlcott” in reference to the proposed 1968 boycott of the Olympic by black American athletes. O’Neal stated that the black females would not girlcott, because they were still trying to make strides for female athletes. The term was later used by many other women, notably Billie Jean King.

After the ’72 Games, she competed with the International Track Association, then coached at the University of Florida. Later, she returned to diplomacy, working for the State Department supporting the US embassies in Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, then joining the Peace Corps and living in Gambia. She has lived in Washington on and off since the 1960s.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.7 (1972); 100H – 13.1 (1972); SP – 38-11i (11.86) (1972).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Lacey O'Neal
80 metres Hurdles, Women (Olympic) 7 h2 r2/3
1972 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Lacey O'Neal
100 metres Hurdles, Women (Olympic) 7 h2 r2/3