Luann Marie RYON

Luann Ryon won a surprising gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in women’s archery. At the time she was only 23-years-old, young for the sport at that time, and had only entered one US Championship until she won the 1976 Olympic Trials. Luann Ryon entered Riverside Community College in the fall of 1971, and enrolled in an archery class because all of the tennis classes were full, later winning the 1974 intercollegiate title. Ryon proved her Olympic gold was not a fluke by winning the 1977 World Championships and leading the United States to the team title, the last time (prior to 2015) the US won that title. Ryon also competed at the 1983 Pan American Games, winning gold medals in the team event and individual 30 metres, adding silver in the individual 50 metres. She placed third in the individual FITA Double Round, but did not get a bronze medal as the US finished 1-2 and in 1983 teams could not sweep medals in individual events at the Pan Ams.