When speaking about athletics, Haiti is often forgotten and left out of the conversation. Stories and news about the country are usually dominated by the struggles it is either currently facing or has gone through in the past

Many know Haiti as the first Black republic in the world after the Haitian Revolution of 1791 -1804. Few are familiar with the almost 20 year occupation from 1915 - 1934 by the United States. And even fewer are familiar with one of the most outspoken activists and ambassadors for the nation Sylvio Cator.

While his country was under occupation by the United States, Cator won Haiti’s first, and to this day only, medal in Track and Field, broke the world record in the Long Jump, and was a pivotal figure in the effort to liberate Haiti from the United States.

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The Modern Olympic Games were first held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 1904 saw the first Black man, George Poage win an Olympic medal, while 1908 was the first time a Black man, John Taylor, would win an Olympic Gold medal.

Women’s events in Track & Field were first introduced at the 1928 Games while 1936 was the first time an African American woman would have the chance to compete, with Tyide Pickett breaking that barrier

With both the 1940 and 1944 Olympic cancelled due to World War 2, it wasn’t until the London 1948 Games where we saw not only the first Black Woman win an Olympic medal, but also the first Black Woman to win an Olympic Gold.

Alice Coachman, with a Gold medal in the high jump, was the pioneer who stood at the top the podium for the first time in Olympic history, opening the door and paving the way for the many who would follow in the years and decades after.

Watch Full Alice Coachman Interview with Washington University of St Louis Here: http://repository.wustl.edu/concern/videos/b27740880

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Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens are two of the greatest athletes in the history of sport. Jackie broke the color barrier in baseball becoming the first Black athlete to play in the MLB. While in Track & Field, Owens won 4 Olympic Gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games and is credited as crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy.

But just behind both Jackie Robinson and Jessie Owens was Matthew “Mack” Robinson, Jackie’s older brother and the Olympic silver medalist in the 200m right behind Owens at the 1936 Olympics.

Throughout his life, Mack overcame various setbacks and struggles, including segregation in Pasadena, to being told he would never compete in sports due to a heart murmur. Despite that, he made huge strides both on and off the track.

In addition to winning the 1936 Olympic 200m Silver, Mack focused a significant amount of his time volunteering with youth organizations, including providing opportunities for kids in his hometown. He was also a vocal advocate for rights in the city of Pasadena.

Watch Full Mack Robinson Interview with Washington University Here: http://repository.wustl.edu/concern/videos/k0698c509

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