Aug. 31, 1904
George Poage became the first Black American to compete and win a medal in the Olympic games, capturing bronze medals in the 200-yard and 400-yard hurdles in the Olympics in St. Louis. A year earlier, the star athlete and student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse became the first black Big Ten track competitor, winning the same events. But after the games, he was largely forgotten, working in a high school and then as a postal clerk before being buried in an unmarked grave. A headstone now marks his grave, and the city of La Crosse has named a city park after him. In 2016, the city unveiled a sculpture to honor the athlete.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
