Lillie Mae LEATHERWOOD-KING

Lillie Leatherwood was primarily a 400-metre runner who won two Olympic 4x400 relay medals with the US, taking gold in 1984 and silver in 1988. Leatherwood also won two medals in the 4x400 at the World Championships, with a silver in 1991 and a bronze in 1987. She was US Champion in the 400 metres in 1985, 1988, and 1991. She also won a bronze medal in the 1985 World Cup and a silver medal in the 1991 World Indoors in the 400. She was ranked in the world top 10 four times, with a best placement of #5 in 1987. In the US rankings, she made the top 10 nine times between 1984-92 and ranked 1st in the US in 1987 and 1991.

Leatherwood ran for the University of Alabama where she was NCAA Champion in the 400 metres in 1986-87 and won the title indoors in 1985-86. She was also runner-up in the 1987 NCAA 200 metres outdoors. Leatherwood married Olympian Emmit King. They later settled in Alabama where she worked for the Tuscaloosa City Police Department.

Personal Best: 400 – 49.66 (1991).