UGA alum and Olympian Gwen Torrence mastered beauty and speed
ATHENS, Ga. (BVM) — Gwen Torrence had dreams of becoming a beautician from an early age and planned to own her own salon. While at Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, Torrence unexpectedly excelled in track and field and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia. With no intention to attend college, it took persuasion from coaches and family to accept her scholarship and join Georgia’s track and field team. Torrence went on to become one of the fastest sprinters in the world and pursue her cosmetology career — a true American success story.
Torrence’s speed was first noticed by her high school physical education teacher, Ray Bonner. He persuaded her to run a timed 220-meter dash and watched as she broke the state record in street clothes and low-heeled shoes. This feat compelled Torrence to join Columbia’s track and field team where she went on to win three consecutive state 100- and 200-meter dash championships and notched All-American honors her senior year.
In 1983, Torrence made the trek to Athens, Georgia and began her collegiate sprinting career. She qualified for the 1984 Olympic Trials as a freshman but was too nervous to attend and instead focused on training on the track which quickly paid off. Torrence won the 55-meter dash event (6.62) at the 1986 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and became the first African-American woman from Georgia to win an NCAA title. In 1987, Torrence repeated this feat and added victories in the 100- and 200-meter dash events. That same year, Torrence’s talents went international as she placed first in the 100- and 200-meter dash events at the World University Games and earned gold in the 4×100 relay and 200-meter dash at the Pan American Games.
It was in 1988 that Torrence became a U.S. Olympian. At the Summer Games in Seoul Korea, Torrence ran in the 100- and 200-meter dash events and earned 5th and 6th place, respectively. She won her first and second Olympic gold medals in the 1992 Summer Games in the 200-meter dash and 4×100 relay. Torrence completed her Olympic career in 1996 when she earned a gold medal in the 4×100 relay and a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash during the Summer Games in Atlanta.
During her Olympic successes, Torrence also amassed a few world championships. At the 1991 Tokyo championships, she earned silver in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes. The following year in Stuttgart, Torrence earned a gold medal in the 4×400-meter relay, two silver medals in the 400-meter dash and 4×100-meter relay and a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash. Her final world championship appearance in 1995 earned her two gold medals in the 100-meter dash and the 4×100-meter relay. One of the most decorated Bulldogs in school history, Torrence’s passions still laid elsewhere.
Torrence became a professional hairstylist in 2000. Nine years later in 2010, she opened her own salon, Bangz & Tanglez, and made her childhood dream a reality. Located in Lithonia, Georgia, Torrence focuses on her current profession and keeps quiet on her Olympic history. Torrence’s medals are displayed at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, while other trophies and photos of her sprinting career are kept tucked away. Though forever grateful for her athletic achievements, Torrence is reveling in her entrepreneurial accomplishment and plans to keep her Olympic career where it is — in the past.
