Although she may be best known for being the first black athlete (male or female) from any country to ever win an Olympic Winter Games Gold Medal (bobsledding), Flowers is also known for her talent on the track. In Birmingham, Ala., where she grew up, she was an All State star in high school, and a seven-time NCAA All-American when she competed for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her college career, she competed in the long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, and 200 meters, and on relay teams. She finished 12th in the 2000 Olympic long jump trials, and won a Gold Medal at the 1994 Olympic Festival
