Devers, Gail (Yolanda Gail)
Track and field
b. Nov. 19, 1966, Seattle, WA
As a student at UCLA, Devers competed in the 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. She won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 1987 Pan-American Games and was the NCAA champion in the event in 1988.
Devers became ill the following year and the problem was eventually diagnosed as Graves' Disease, a severe type of hyperthyroidism, and it was thought for a time that her feet might have to be amputated. However, the illness was finally stabilized.
She returned to competition in 1992, winning a gold medal in the 100-meter at the Olympics. Devers was leading in the 100-meter hurdles when she stumbled and fell over the last hurdle, ending up fifth. In 1993, Devers won both events at the world championships.
Devers repeated in the hurdles at the 1995 world championships and in the 100-meter dash at the 1996 Olympics. She was only the second woman to win the 100-meter at consecutive Olympics. She also won a gold medal as a member of the 4-by-100-meter relay team.
After winning the 100-meter hurdles for the third at the world championships in 1999, Devers was a favorite in the event at the 2000 Olympics. However, Achilles tendon and hamstring injuries forced her withdrawal.
At 34, it seemed as if her career might well be over. But Devers has continued to run, and to run well. In 2004, she won her 10th national championship in the 100-meter hurdles at the U. S. Olympic Trials, becoming only the third American athlete in history to make five Olympic track and field teams (the other two were Willye White and Carl Lewis).