MEMPHIS, Tenn. — This Black History Month, we’re honoring one of our own. Memphian Rochelle Stevens is a two-time Olympian. In 1992, Stevens won a Silver Medal, in track and field, during the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In 1996, Stevens won Gold in Atlanta in the women’s 4x400-meter relay.
“Representing Team USA was an honor,” said Stevens. “It was more than an honor for me. I did what I needed to do to be one of the best athletes in the entire world, making history.”
It was a dream come true that all started in Memphis.
“I can remember watching the Wilma Rudolph story when I was like 11 years old,” said Stevens. “From that, I was like, 'Wow, I want to be like Wilma.'”
Stevens grew up in Orange Mound, finding her gift on the track.
“I started running and racing other children in the streets running from Cherokee Elementary School every day in Orange Mound, challenging girls and boys to a light pole to light pole racing,” said Stevens.
After graduating from Melrose High School with dozens of scholarships, Stevens attended Morgan State University, graduating in 1988.
Following years of training, Stevens was ready to go for gold…or so she thought.
“Upon graduating from Morgan State University, I missed the Olympic team that was in Seoul, Korea, by a blink of an eye," Stevens remembered. "I mean, literally just a blink. It was very devastating to miss that team.”
But a dream delayed was not a dream denied. Four years later, in 1992, Stevens made the team.
“My first Olympic experience was nerve racking,” Stevens recalled. “You know, you’re counting down to the hours to minutes of when you're going to be performing in front of the entire world.”
That year, Team USA won silver in the 4x400 relay, but in 1996, Stevens made history in the same race. Team USA won gold.
“I'm just so grateful,” Stevens said. “It's something that I will always cherish for the rest of my life.”
Since this life-changing moment, this Olympian spends her time encouraging young athletes to work hard and hold on to their dreams, just like she held on to hers.
“That’s what it's all about…achieving dreams,” said Stevens. “It's a fight inside of everyone.”
Decades later, athletes around the world still want to ‘Run like Rochelle.’ The Rochelle Stevens Foundation has helped more than 30,000 inner city athletes across the southeast. Now, Stevens is preparing for her annual invitational track meet this summer in Memphis.