Rochelle Stevens

Rochelle Stevens (born September 8, 1966 in Memphis, Tennessee) was a 1996 Olympic gold medalist for the United States in the women's 4x400-meter relay. She was also part of the team that won the silver medal in the same event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

As a high schooler, Stevens was best known as an 800-meter runner, with a best of 2:11.01.She started running at age 12,earned a degree in telecommunications and sales from Morgan States University where the Rochelle Stevens Invitational Track Meet is held in Memphis each summer. It's an age group affair that draws 2,000 athletes from 10 states. She was coached by her mother, Beatrice (Holloway) Davis, since 1991: "Once I get off the field, she's Mom again".

Davis had been a state champion in high school and was a freshman on scholarship at the legendary Tennessee State program, when she became pregnant with Rochelle: "I ended her career. She's done her running through me". Rochelle almost gave up the sport after missing the Olympic team in 1988; however returned after her sister, Catherine Holloway died of a brain tumor. Stevens promised to win her a medal in Barcelona and she did running a spirited "anchor leg" in the 4x400 relay, she held a lead over Olga Bryzgina until about 30 metres from the line. She lost much of the 1993 season to a pulled hamstring; 1994 was a down year as well, after she slipped on ice and broke her jaw, which had to be wired for six weeks. She THEN ended up being iron deficient and anaemic after a low-key 1997, when she said her chief goal was to get over some aches and pains, she came back strong in 1998, placing 2nd in national Champs.

Career Highlights

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1999: did not compete.

1998: 400m best of 51.07, 2nd at USA Outdoors (51.07),6th in Goodwill Games (52.08); second leg on runner-up 4x400m (51.2 split 3:24.81)ranked #5 U.S. by T&FN.

1997: 400m best of 54.10, 6th in heats of USA Outdoors (54.10).

1996: 400m best of 50.65, 2nd in 200m heat (23.31) at USA Indoors, 4th in Olympic Trials (51.16); did not compete in quarter-finals of 200m (23.31 heat) led-off and won gold medal at the 4x400m at Olympic Games (51.68 split 3:20.91)ranked #4 U.S. by T&FN.

1995: 400m best of 51.26 5th in USA Indoors (52.33), 4th in USA Outdoors (51.97) second leg on winning 4x400m relay at World Champs (50.5 split for 3:22.39)ranked #4 U.S. by T&FN.

1994: 400m best of 51.45, 4th in 200m heat (24.35) at USA Indoor, 6th in USA Outdoors (52.42)led-off 5th place 4x400m relay at World Cup (53.6 for 3:30.99)ranked #8 U.S. by T&FN.

1993: 400m best of 52.39won 200m at USA Indoors (23.51)7th in USA Outdoors (52.56).

1992: 400m best of 50.06; 3rd in 200m (23.98) at USA Indoors, won Olympic Trials (50.22)6th in Olympic Games (50.11); silver medal-winning 4x400m (3:20.92),ranked #8 in world (#2 U.S.) by T&FN.

1991: 400m best of 50.71, won 200m, 3rd in 400m at USA Indoors, 5th in USA Outdoors led-off 2nd-place 4x400m at World Champs,ranked #5 U.S. by T&FN.

1990: 400m best of 50.39, 4th in USA Indoors, 2nd at USA Outdoors, 4th in GP Final,ranked #8 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN.

1989: 400m best of 50.75,won USA Outdoors, 4th in World Cup; second leg on 4th-place 4x400m relay, ranked #4 in world (#1 U.S.) by T&FN.

1988: 400m best of 51.23,won NCAA 400m (51.23); 3rd in 200m,3rd in 200m at USA Outdoors, 5th in semis in both 200m and 400m at Olympic Trials,ranked #8 U.S. by T&FN; #9, U.S. at 200m.

1987: 400m best of 51.23, plus 22.84 (200m),won MEAC 200m,2nd in NCAA 400m; 7th in 200m,7th in USA Outdoors,led-off winning 4x400m at Pan Am Games,ranked #5 U.S. by T&FN.

1986: 400m best of 51.90, won MEAC 200m, 7th in heat at NCAA Outdoors.

1985: 400m best of 53.31,7th in heat at NCAA Outdoors,6th in heat at USA Outdoors.

Personal Bests

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400m 50.05 1992

References

* [http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=STEVEROC01 databaseOlympics]
* [http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/2000/stevens.html Profile]