Olympic Glory
For more than 100 years, Pittsburgh athletes have represented their city, region, and nation on the world's biggest stage.
The Olympians
They have competed against the best in the world and returned home to Western Pennsylvania victorious. Meet just a few of the Olympic medalists who have called Pittsburgh home.
Herb Drury, ready for Olympic competition (1924)Original Source: Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center
Herb Drury
Herb Drury, a scrappy defenseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team, had an incredible run at the 1924 Olympic Games. He scored 22 goals and notched three assists, including the only U.S. goal en route to a silver medal against the Canadians.
Lenore Kight Wingard, poolside at the Berlin Olympics (1936)Original Source: Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center
Lenore Kight Wingard
Holder of seven world records, 23 National AAU titles, and 24 American records, Lenore Kight (Wingard) is perhaps best known for a race she did not win. During the 1932 Olympics, gold in the 400m freestyle went to Helen Madison over Kight by a fraction of a second.
Lenore Kight Wingard Olympics ID badge (1936)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
Lenore Kight Wingard ID badge, 1936 Olympics
Kight rebounded, winning every freestyle race she entered in 1933, and adding a bronze Olympic medal in 1936 to the silver she won in ’32. Lenore continued to teach swimming and set Masters’ records into her 80s.
Herb Douglas travels to the London Olympics (1948)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
Herb Douglas
On July 15, 1948, Herb Douglas boarded the U.S.S. American with his Olympic teammates for the journey to the Summer Games in London.
Olympic warmups used by Herb Douglas (1948)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
When the team arrived six and a half days later, they found a nation still profoundly impacted by World War II, but a world ready to embrace the ideals of the Olympics.
Douglas excelled at the games, winning a bronze medal in the long jump, and developing a special bond with fellow Olympians. The Olympics became central to launching Douglas in new worlds, opening doors to opportunities in his life and work.
Olympic sled used by Dan McCoy, Sochi Olympics (2014)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
Dan McCoy
Selected at age 14 to the U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team, just two years later, Dan McCoy was named to the U.S. National Team. He has constantly balanced his health with the arduous training required to play on international ice.
With three World Championship medals, two gold and one silver, McCoy has competed in rinks around the world.
Chris Kunitz and Dan McCoy (c. 2015)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
In 2014, he represented the United States in Sochi, where the U.S. defeated the home team, Russia, 1-0, winning the gold. McCoy notched two assists in five games during the Paralympics.
Lauryn Williams wins NCAA championship in 100m (2004)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
Lauryn Williams
One of only five athletes to medal in both the summer and winter Olympics, Rochester, Pa.’s Lauryn Williams captured the 100m silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics with a personal best time of 10.96 seconds
University of Miami uniform worn by Lauryn Williams for NCAA championship in 100m (2004)Original Source: Heinz History Center Museum Collections
She also won gold as a member of the 4x100m relay team in 2012, then won silver again in 2014 in the two-woman bobsled.
The 2004 NCAA 100m champion, Williams was also the 2003 Pan American Games 100 and 4x100m gold medalist and a 4x100m relay gold medalist at the 2003, 2005, and 2007 World Championships.
