Boswell, Cathy (1962—)

African-American basketball player who won a team gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. Born in Joliet, Illinois, on November 10, 1962.

All-time women's scoring leader at Illinois State University; winner of the Willye White Award in 1979; winner of a team gold medal in basketball for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Cathy Boswell brought women's basketball to new heights in the United States. After winning the 1979 Willye White Award as the top female high-school athlete in Illinois, Boswell enrolled at Illinois State University. While there, she was on the Kodak All-Region team and was twice a finalist for the Wade Trophy. In 1983, she was named to the J.C. Penney All American Five. She competed on the Jones Cup team (1980); the U.S.A. Dial Jr. Women's team (1981); the U.S.A. Select team (1982); and the World University team (1983). In 1979 and 1981, she played in the National Festival. One of Illinois State's best athletes, Boswell was all-time leading scorer on its Lady Redbird basketball team with 2,005 points and 1,060 rebounds. Other records include: highest field-goal percentage (.599), most free throws scored (101), most free throws attempted (119), highest free-throw percentage (.848), and most field goals scored (274). As a forward, she was the first woman whose jersey was ever retired at the university. Only Illinois State athlete Doug Collins, the great NBA star, scored more than Boswell. In 1984, Cathy Boswell qualified for the U.S. Olympic basketball team which won the gold medal that year in Los Angeles.

sources:

Page, James A. Black Olympian Medalists. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1991.

Karin L. Haag , Athens, Georgia