TigerBelles:

The Untold Story of

the Fastest Women

on Earth

TigerBelles: The Untold Story of the Fastest Women on Earth (promo) from Spencer Wilking on Vimeo.

In the 1960 Rome Olympics the women’s track team was stocked top to bottom with black runners from perennial powerhouse Tennessee State University. Known as the “Tigerbelles” and coached by TSU’s Ed Temple the ladies dominated the international field and for one of the first times in history African-American women were recognized as sports celebrities. Tigerbelle sensation Wilma Rudolph was crowned “fastest woman in world” and cheered all over Europe, but back home with the Civil Rights Movement about to boil over, Coach Temple and his Tigerbelles were relegated to second class citizenship. 

This is the untold story of the Tigerbelles, who with their longtime Coach Ed Temple overcame the indignities of racism, won gold in Rome 1960 and dominated women’s track for 30 years while laying the groundwork for Title IX. This documentary project is currently in development with Storyville Films.

Directed by: OREN JACOBY
Written & Produced by: DAVID MARANISS (author of “Rome 1960”)
Produced by: SPENCER WILKING