Brisco-Hooks, Valerie (1960–)

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Brisco-Hooks, Valerie (1960–)

African-American runner. Born July 6, 1960, in Greenwood, Mississippi; m. Alvin Hooks (wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles), 1981 (div., 1984).

At Los Angeles Olympics, won a gold medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay and back-to back gold medals for the 200 and 400 meters (1984), the 1st Olympian to win both events and the 1st American track-and-field woman to have won 3 Olympic gold medals since Wilma Rudolph in 1960; won a silver medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay at the Seoul Olympics (1988).

See also Women in World History.

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