Suzie McConnell-Serio was dribbling basketballs since before she could walk. She honed her skills on the local courts of Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood, and later earned All-American honors at Penn State where she set multiple NCAA records. Suzie went on to play and later coach in the WNBA. An Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the Woman’s Basketball Hall of Fame, few have done more to empower and inspire the next generation of female athletes than Suzie McConnell.

Executive Producers: Howard Baldwin and Karen Baldwin
Director of Creative Strategy and Design: Kelly Schanes 
Creative and Technical Content Director: Sam Alburger
Host: Maria Anto 

The son of a shepherd and a native of Ethiopia, Abebe Bikila is best known for setting the world record marathon time at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Bikila’s feat is all the more impressive considering his feet; just as he had trained his entire life, in Rome, Bikila traversed 26-plus miles of cobblestone streets barefoot. By becoming the first ever Black African to win an Olympic gold medal, Bikila inspired millions and opened the door to African dominance in the sport of long distance running.