The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State

by Aime Alley Card

The Tigerbelles tells the epic story of the 1960 Tennessee State University all-Black women’s track team, which found Olympic glory at the 1960 games in Rome. Author Aime Alley Card tells an epic story of desire, success, and failure—of beating the odds—against the backdrop of a changing America. Readers will come to know the individuals’ unique struggles and triumphs, while also understanding how these dreams emerged and solidified just as the country was struggling to leave the Jim Crow era behind. Coach Edward Temple pushed each team member to the limit and saw the possibilities in them that they often did not see themselves. The elite group of talent included Wilma Rudolph, Barbara Jones, Lucinda Williams, Martha Hudson, Willye B. White, and Shirley Crowder: women who once were and should still be known worldwide.

Ultimately the team’s drive was for more than medals. Coach Temple and the Tigerbelles wanted to change the world's perception of what this group of young women were capable of. The Tigerbelles is a multilayered inspirational tale of triumph over adversity. Operating on a shoestring budget and pitted dirt track, they nevertheless shared a common goal: to represent the USA in track and field. The arc of their story starts with the origins of the team in Nashville, continues through the Olympics in Rome in the early fall of 1960, and focus on the achievement of an entire team of women, highlighting not only their character and talent but also the relationships between them that helped propel them to their ultimate success. Based on memoirs and interviews with team members, including Coach Temple, this is the story of an impossible dream come true.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sports, Race, Memoir, Feminism, American History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 2024

Reviews

[LibroReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

We often read fiction stories of women that shatter the glass ceiling, breaking all boundaries meant to keep them contained, and feel empowered and inspired to change our own lives. This book inspires the same emotions, the difference being it is the story of real women, facing real-time challenges in a time where adversaries for women was a common theme, winning real battles to inspire all the coming generations.


The Tigerbelles is the story of an all Black women’s track team that won the Olympic in 1960 in Rome against the backdrop of changing America.

Written in simple, flowing, easy to read language, the book brings out the well-researched facts along with the emotions of everyone involved - the failures and success of The Tigerbelles. The various pictures and quotes from interviews make the story alive from the first page to the last.

I did not know I will come out the other end filled with pride, emotions of sadness and triumph, and a changed woman. The Tigerbelles did not just win over running, they laid out the path for our hearts to take a leap, dream big, and achieve it all.

The Tigerbelles proves that facing challenges that bring you down and getting up the 8th time is not just a fairy-tale concept, it is a part of all of us, all we need is to look within, believe, and work hard to get what we deserve.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Track opens doors," he said, "and education keeps them open."

A history of the early years of the Tennessee State women's track team, aka the Tigerbelles, who were international champions and Olympians despite not having an actual track to practice on.

I really, really enjoyed this history of Coach Temple and his team.

The Tigerbelles were competing in an era where women's sports weren't appreciated or funded, where women had to be ladies first and athletes a distant second, respectability politics ruled, and the South was deeply segregated. As Black female athletes—most first-generation college students from poor families—the Tigerbelles worked five times as hard, won the awards, and received a fraction of the press—until the 1960 Olympics, which they absolutely swept. They paved the way for women's sports at the professional and collegiate level, proving that women athletes were just as important as men's sports.

[Judy Zell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aime Card does a very good job describing the challenges that the Tigerbelles faced as poor, black, female college students. Back in the 1950's, girls could compete in basketball (with those silly girls' rules) in high school but not in college. The only college sport for poor girls was track and field, and they did not get much funding. Coach Ed Temple did a great job scouting state championships in the southern and midwestern states, and he recruited promising girls to attend his summer training camp at TSU. Two of his runners went to the Olympic Games in 1952, and Barbara Jones became the youngest girl ever to win an Olympic gold medal. To get to track meets, the coach and his wife had to drive 2 station wagons, because the school provided no funds. They also had trouble finding meals and accommodations on many of their trips because of segregation. Six Tigerbelles went to the 1956 Olympics, the first time that 6 athletes from the same school made the U.S. team, and 5 of them won medals. TSU sent 7 women, one male runner, and Coach Temple to the 1960 Olympics in Moscow, where Wilma Rudolph earned her 3 gold medals.

Thanks to Aime Card and Lyons Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of The Tigerbelles, an all-Black women's Olympic track team from Tennessee State University. While that may not seem like a big deal, remember that in the south in the 1950s, Jim Crow laws were in effect and these women did not have the privilege of Title IX rules to compete. Their coach, Edward Temple, recruited, protected, and guided these women to get their education and a degree when women were not supposed to do those things. He provided the encouragement, training, and discipline to turn teenagers into world class track and field medal winners. Wilma Rudolph may be the only woman you have heard of, but the rest were just as talented and gifted as athletes. Barbara Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Martha Hudson rounded out the 4 x 100m relay team that won gold in Rome in the 1960 Olympics.
I found the story of the Tigerbelles intriguing and important. The drive, courage, and talent that these women possessed was amazing, especially since the team had a minuscule budget, horrible track and locker room conditions, and few at the university who believed in what the women could accomplish. I loved learning about all the women and their backstories. They had the drive and talent, but Edward Temple pulled it all together. He was a good man and used all of his skills to coach the women as well as provide support for them in a very challenging time. The last chapter, Legacy, shares stories of what the women, and the men who supported them, beyond the medals and I am in awe of all they overcame to be successful. The author did extensive research and wrote a detailed book that shares these stories that need to be told without sounding like a textbook. I highly recommend this book for people who like history, sports, and learning something new.

Thank you to Aime Card and Lyons Press for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Mary Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Aime Alley Card for telling the Tennessee State Tigerbelles story. It's about time these amazing women ( and Coach Temple) got the recognition they so deserve. I can appreciate the Tigerbelles hard work and sacrifices they made to make not only one, but several Olympic teams. Add on being female, black and the racial climate of the 50 and 60s in the south, the deck was definitely stacked against them! I loved hearing how the Tigerbelles not only endured but prevailed! Truly a must read from start to finish.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there have been many books released on the struggles of Black athletes from previous eras the last few years, there hasn’t been one that has focused on an exclusive set of fabulous Black female athletes from those times until now. “The Tigerbelles” gets its title from the name given to the women’s track and field team for Tennessee State University. This excellent book on the Tigerbelles by Aime Alley Card is a fantastic account of their success at both their competition against other amateur athletes and their medal-winning trips to the 1956 and 1960 Olympics.

Any discussion of the Tigerbelles has to start with their dedicated coach, Ed Temple. Temple not only provided guidance to the women on their performance on the track, but he also was a mentor on showing them how to conduct themselves outside of the school. This was not only about their behavior, but their attitudes, their dress and their temperament. There were some who would rebel against this, and they would be met with consequences but overall, Ed Temple was the driving force behind their success. The book describes what he did and his life extremely well.

As for the athletes themselves, Card writes about them with equal detail and knowledge. While the most famous member of the Tigerbelles would have to be Wilma Rudolph, her story is not the only one that makes for great reading. Others who enjoyed success with the team such as Barbara Jones and Lucinda Williams also have stories that should be shared and they are in this book. The women’s experiences, both good and bad, are shared here as well. While it is well-known about the racial discrimination faced by all Black people at that time, it is always painful to read about them. However, there are also many uplifting stories, including the experience of those who qualified for the 1960 Olympics in Rome. It was good to read about these as well as the hardships the athletes faced.

Speaking of hardships, the team faced those at their school as well. Despite their success and popularity, Temple faced many difficulties in securing funding from the school for the team and for upgrading their facilities. It didn’t help that the press did not take female athletes seriously (even more so than today) and did not give them the same respect and publicity. That didn’t detract their fellow students as Temple would annually hold a Blue and White competition with teammates running and competing against each other and it would attract many spectators on campus.

It isn’t often that a high quality book is written about a little-known athlete or team and while Wilma Rudolph may be known to some, the Tigerbelles have a story that many may not know but now will have stories that should be known by more people.

I wish to thank Lyons Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic narrative nonfiction book about the early women track and field athletes and their stern, driven coach at Tennessee State University. Coach Edward Temple and the Tigerbelles, including Wilma Rudolph, dominated women’s track and field in the early years of women’s sports. They faced prejudice from the university and the world because women athletes were not taken seriously. Racial inequality was at its heights during this time in Tennessee, the deep South, and in the Northern states as well.

I especially appreciated the ability of the author to create tension in the events these young women participated. The exhaustive training these women went through to prove themselves and their sport before the world seemed superhuman to me.

Aime Alley Card, the author, is the daughter of Herc Alley, who was the football and track coach at Vanderbilt during this same time. Herc Alley extended a courtesy toward the Tennessee State track teams to practice at their track facilities as they prepared for the 1960 Olympics.

If you like sports books that show talent, determination, and hard work, this book will entertain and delight you.

[Leidamarie Tirado-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible group of women athletes that more people should know about. This book was both uplifting in highlighting the incredible accomplishments, while making me want to rage at the sexism and racism they faced on their journey.

I had the opportunity to hear the author, Aime, talk about the book before reading and her dedication to sharing their story was apparent in her talk and the writing. I appreciate the care that she took to include as many quotes as possible from the Tigerbelles, Coach Temple, and others so you get the story as much from them as from Aime’s writing.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in Nashville and was 9 years old when the Tigerbelles and Wilma Rudolph were the Olympic queens. I’ve always been a fan and this book was such an eye opener for me. Not only were these young ladies Black but they were also women and life was so unfair. Yet they persisted. Coach Ed Temple was an amazing man, persisting with them and never letting them give up. Great story!

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. It really needs to be turned into a movie. The personalities and drive of the main women and men, the politics, the drive and the work ethic, gender roles, race relations.. wow!

Such a fun and interesting read!

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect a book about such amazing women to be so boring.

[Elizabeth Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Hard to believe the racial and gender disparities. Also how did I not know about the tigerbelles?!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Aime Card and publisher Lyons Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for your honest review. Move over Rudy, Hoosiers, and all the other sports legends - the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles are what athletic Cinderella stories are made of!

Between switching sports in college to the Jim Crow challenges of finding shelter on the road during meets and everything in between, these women and their coach were the very definition of grit and tenacity. Thanks to Aime Card for taking up the long overdue task of telling these courageous women’s story. I’ve lived in Tennessee for almost 20 years and had absolutely no idea there were such Olympic greats among us…

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The massive track nerd in me loved learning more about Wilma Rudolph and her teammates. A very cool history that opened up lots of opportunities for women in sports.

[Liz Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The photograph on the first page of Aimee Alley Card stirred my curiosity to read more. Once the book was in my hands, I couldn’t put it down.

The Tigerbelles were young female athletes that recruited by Coach Ed Temple during the time of segregation in the 1960’s. Leaving their families behind, the girls arrived from different states to form an all-black women’s track team at Tennessee State.

Card gives readers a thoroughly researched account of a little known time in history. With photographs, quotes and details, the reader feels the pounding of the track as the team endures and finds greatness against race barriers, lack of resources and confidence in their own abilities.

This book expertly weaves intimate details making this time in America’s history an unforgettable memory.

Thank you to the author for a free Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review.

[ᛚᚨᚱᚲᚨ × ᚠᛖᚾᚱᛁᚱ (Semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[IAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many successful people we see today stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. This is certainly true for American female athletes, especially women of color. They stand on the shoulders of women who broke through barriers, both athletic and cultural. At the foundation of that tower of women are those who were members of the Tennessee State University track and field team in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Tigerbelles. Against all odds, these women became Olympic champions and much more. 

I was familiar with Wilma Rudolph before I read this book but knew very little about the Tigerbelles or their extraordinary coach, Edward Temple. I remember watching athletics (track and field) events at the 1960 Rome Olympics on our grainy black and white television in my native England. We were cheering for British athlete Dorothy Hyman, but were in awe of the amazing accomplishments of 20-year-old Wilma Rudolph, especially when we learned of her struggles to overcome the effects of the polio she contracted as a young child. The Tigerbelles, a non-fiction work, not only tells Wilma’s story but also describes how the Tigerbelles of Tennessee State University became a powerhouse track and field team. For a team to accomplish what they did would be remarkable today, but to do so in the pre-Title IX 1950/60s when female athletes were frequently dismissed and not considered worthy of receiving the funds necessary for program development, this is a story worth telling. As black women, the Tigerbelles not only faced sexism, but they also faced racial discrimination whenever they traveled to off-campus meets. The depth of the author’s research is evident throughout the book. The effort to achieve the level of performance these women needed to compete on the international stage was impressive enough, but Aime Alley Card did a magnificent job of weaving the political climate of the time into the narrative. At the time Wilma Rudolph and her teammates were preparing for the Olympics at TSU, Nashville had become a center of student civil rights activity led by activist legends like John Lewis and Diane Nash, both students in Nashville. The author provides an in-depth perspective of how the coach and the team determined their roles in both the civil rights and women’s rights movements. For some, it was a difficult choice to not show solidarity by participating in the student sit-ins held just a few months before the 1960 Olympics. Knowing their participation could end any chance of making the Olympic team, most team members chose to follow Coach Edward Temple's advice that their opportunity for non-violent demonstration was by successfully competing in the Olympic Games. He wanted his team to win, not just for the sake of winning, but to prove to the world that these women were worthy and to the women themselves that they could achieve their goals with grit, determination, and above all, hard work. The most important thing that Edward Temple wanted for the team members was a good education that would help them break free from the cycle of poverty that they had known from birth. He held them to the highest standards of behavior in all areas both on and off the track. His team were not only champions, they had class.

I appreciate receiving an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dress like a lady. Act like a lady. Run like a man.” – Coach Temple

I adored this book about the early days of the Tigerbelles, a legendary women’s track and field team well ahead of its time at historically black college Tennessee State in Nashville.

There’s so much to love about this well-researched sports non-fiction book : the story of dedicated coach Ed Temple who cultivated talent and single-handedly advocated for women’s sports; the individual stories of girls who came from backgrounds of extreme poverty and personal challenges, and yet, who, through determination and grit, launched themselves to Olympic competition in 1956 and 1960 and international fame; the early, hard years of women’s collegiate sports exacerbated by the sexist views of many observers and sports reporters and virtually zero funding; and the additional struggles of black women becoming elite track athletes during the harsh Jim Crow era and widespread racism.

Sports stories are always tales of intense discipline, single-mindedness and overcoming adversity, but the tale of the trailblazing women of the Tigerbelles track and field team and the dedicated coach who made their success possible is an important reminder to girls and women today – and parents of girls who join sports teams – of the courageous athletes who made it all possible.

While this book will be especially loved by readers like me who love track & field, it can be equally enjoyed by a much wider audience to better understand tumultuous times and the brave, young women who never gave up, thereby fighting for change that benefits all of us.

Five well-deserved stars for this beautifully researched and written book. I’ll be buying a copy for my track athlete son.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for content
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for writing style

Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee is a fascinating and powerful read. I went into it with no particular interest in running, but I was completely drawn in by the strength, determination, and resilience of these remarkable women. Their athletic achievements alone are worth celebrating—but what really surprised me was the deep connection to the Civil Rights Movement.

Historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis make appearances, highlighting just how significant the Tigerbelles were beyond the track. Their story isn’t just about sports—it’s about breaking barriers and changing the course of history.

My only critique is the writing style. I would have preferred the book to feel more like a flowing narrative. At times, it read more like a collection of newspaper clippings than a cohesive story, which made it harder to stay immersed. Still, the content is rich and meaningful, and these women’s stories deserve to be widely known and remembered.

[Landpomeranze (so much to read - so little time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Foxes, not oxes"
This book describes very vividly what obstacles the Tigerbelles had to face and overcome. It was a very difficult time and back in the late 50s there was no widespread interest in women's sports. Much less track. There was no funding, the conditions for training were dire and most of the women had to fight poverty as well as racism on a daily basis. Fortunately so much has changed since then. Segregation existed and made it even harder for the women to train und compete. And yet Wilma Rudolph and her friends and team members succeeded to win. Not only medals at the Olympics but also for themselves. The only thing I did not like all that much about this very interesting book are the many details. Sometimes I lost track of all the names. But still it is well worth reading.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly incredible to read about these women, their accomplishments, and their legacy. Formatted as an oral history, I did become frustrated with the writing many times. Reading the same moment or thought from multiple people felt repetitive (and this was throughout the book). At times there were tangents with other only loosely related people. The character descriptions were also inconsistent throughout, i.e. a person would be first mentioned without any description of who they were and then later given an introduction, when others were unnecessarily given the same description/introduction every time. It’s almost as if the author got lost in her research. I was left wishing there had been more backstory of each of the main women in the book. Overall, the story of the Tigerbelles is easily 5 stars, the writing is 2 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Tigerbelles" story is one that needs to be remembered. Under the coaching of Ed Temple, black women from Tennessee State became the fastest women in the world in the 200, 100, and 400 relay. Their coach gave them opportunities of an education and dedication. He recruited women who still worked in cotton fields in the Deep South and who ran barefoot. Coming to Tennessee State to train under him opened doors that were meaningful for the rest of their lives.
Their stories need to be on the big screen for all to see what dedication, discipline, and personal character can teach you. This is a narrative for all ages. I enjoyed learning about these women. I grew up less than 200 miles away and it is the first time for me to hear about them. A great read!!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recall seeing a movie about Wilma Rudolph back in the 70s and have always been interested in the Women's Track team from Tennessee State back in the 50s and 60s.

Tennessee State University is an HCBUs (Historically Black College/University) that produced an amazing Women's Track team in the 50s and 60s. Lead by a dedicated coach Edward Temple, this team of young Black women produced world champions and Olympic gold medalists. Amazing at any time, these women faced and overcame dual obstacles of racism and misogyny.

Even at their Black university and even after bringing home Olympic medals, the team was unfunded and received lukewarm support from their school. As stated in the book, they were "just" girls and it was "just" track.

They had no proper track for training - just a partial track on the outside of the football field. For track meets, they traveled in a caravan of private station wagons. No bus for the girls. And due to segregation they were uncertain of welcome or even safety on the road. They packed their own food, used bushes at the side of the road for bathroom stops, and for overnight trips often slept in the cars.

But through it all, they trained by running up and down the hills on campus. The coach had strict rules for the team to live by. Curfews, good grades were mandatory, and most importantly no riding in cars with boys.

“Look like a lady, act like a lady, and run like a man." This was the coach's motto.

It was delightful to read about these young women prevailing against insane odds to become the fastest athletes of their day.

[Kat White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t really read “real stories” but I absolutely loved this one! I didn’t really know anything about the Tigerbelles and the women and coach who made the “impossible, possible”. Especially when faced with gender discrimination, extreme racial discrimination, and how to rise from your situation to overcome the odds. I absolutely love stories about women being badasses and this book was it. Man it made me sad that I didn’t continue my short lived T&F stint and now I want to be an Olympian like them. It also added to a layer being from Tennessee and knowing TSU, but learning so much more about the school and life back in the 50s-60s, particularly for African American women.

I very much recommend this book!

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Card’s history of the trailblazing Tennessee State women’s track team covers not only their rigorous training under Coach Ed Temple, with few resources or institutional support, but also the enormous hardships, obstacles, and disrespect they faced as Black women living in the Jim Crow South at a time when women athletes of any color were all too quickly dismissed. Part of how they fought that was by leaning hard on respectability politics—it wasn’t enough to be world-class athletes; they had to be impeccably put-together ladies at all times—and Card’s sympathetic but nuanced handling of that is one of the more interesting aspects of the book. And the achievement of the gold-medal-winning 4x100 relay team—all Tennessee State athletes, as if the Black university had fielded its very own team at the 1960 Olympics—truly is extraordinary.

2025 PS Reading Challenge
17. A book about a run club.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Aime Alley Card brings to life the fascinating true story of The Tennessee State Tigerbells and their journey to the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Along the way we learn the story of Coach Temple and his elite athletes including Wilma Rudolph, Barbara Jones, Lucinda Williams, Martha Hudson, Willye B. White and Shirley Crowder. The story shines light on racism, segregation, and the Cold War. It also displays the how these amazing women paved the way for Title IV and succeeded against all odds.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of The Tigerbells and the well woven research and interviews.

Thank Aime Alley Card for the advanced copy of your fabulous book in exchange for my review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of the Tigerbelles, and found their story inspirational. In 1956 and again in 1960, the Tennessee State University all-black women’s track team, against all odds competed in and won many medals in the Olympics held in Australia and Rome. They had no money and essentially no training facilities, and as a result, went to few meets. They not only had to overcome financial challenges, but prejudice due not only to race, but also gender. They broke ground in the fight for women's sports that led to Title IX, and they did it by training hard, having intense discipline, sportsmanship, courage and grace.

[Dianne C Braley]

The Tigerbelles is an inspirational journey of strength, hope, and resilience. Aime Alley Card has brought us a masterfully written story of an entire team's climb to the Olympics, courageously triumphing together as well as individually during a tumultuous time in our nation's history. The author weaves this together with ease, which is no easy feat. It is a powerfully told story that is both emotional and exhilarating. It's a must-read.

Dianne C. Braley, author of The Silence and the Sound, winner of the NYC 2022 Big Book Award

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aime Card did an incredible amount of research for this book. Very interesting the struggles of blacks and women in the 1950’s and 60’s. The book reveals the hardships faced by each of the women wanting to run track and field events - just do what they loved to do and to use the talents they were blessed with. Through the efforts of these remarkable women, doors that had previously closed due to gender and race were opened. The book encourages the reader that preservation and respect “win the race”. Well written.

[Jean Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three cheers for the triumphant Tigerbelles—the fastest women in the world! Aime Card shines a light on the team's struggles against fierce racial- and gender-based discrimination. Tigerbelles is a must read about determined women who blazed a trail all the way to the Olympic podium.

Thank you to the author for the honor of allowing me a sneak peak at Tigerbelles that will come out in January 2o24. Add this to your "Want to Read" list!