Valerie Brisco-Hooks
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Valerie Ann•Brisco-Hooks |
| Used name | Valerie•Brisco-Hooks |
| Born | 6 July 1960 in Greenwood, Mississippi (USA) |
| Measurements | 170 cm / 62 kg |
| Affiliations | Tiger World Class Athletic Club/West Coast Athletic Club |
| NOC |  United States |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 3 |
| Silver | 1 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 4 |
Biography
After her brother Robert was shot on a running track in Los Angeles, Valerie Brisco took up running in his honor. Initially a fairly unremarkable runner, she married NFL player Alvin Hooks and gave birth to a son. She then put herself through gruelling daily 12-hour training sessions, culminating in two wins at the US Olympic Trials, qualifying for the 200 and 400 m. In Los Angeles, she peaked, and won three Olympic gold medals. She became the first woman to win the 200 and 400 m at the same Olympics, and added a third gold in the relay. She never managed to reach the same level as in 1984, but won a World Championship bronze in 1987 and Olympic silver in 1988, both in the 4×400 m relay. She retired from track and field in 1991.
Personal Bests: 200 – 21.81 (1984); 400 – 48.83 (1984).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Valerie Brisco-Hooks | |||
| 200 metres, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 400 metres, Women (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 4 × 400 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) | United States | 1 | Gold | |||
| 1988 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Valerie Brisco | |||
| 400 metres, Women (Olympic) | 4 | |||||
| 4 × 400 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) | United States | 2 | Silver |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (2–0–0 1979 San Juan ATH gold: 4×100 m relay (competed as Valerie Brisco); 1987 Indianapolis ATH gold: 4×400 m relay (competed as Valerie Brisco))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Athletics Championships (0–0–1 1987 Rome bronze: 4×400 m relay (competed as Valerie Brisco))