The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee inducted a star-studded class of legendary athletes Saturday evening (12 July) into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame.
The class of 2025 included eight individual Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including Serena Williams, Gabby Douglas, Kerri Walsh Jennings, and Allyson Felix, along with two teams, two legends, one coach and one special contributor.
“It means the world. Being inducted in this class specifically is huge, and then just being inducted into this Hall of Fame in general is wild,” Walsh Jennings told Olympics.com prior to the ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “This class of Olympians is incredible.”
Another member of the class, Anita DeFrantz, was one of two legends added to the prestigious group Saturday.
The 72-year-old, who won bronze at the 1976 Olympic Games in rowing before breaking barriers in sports governance as the first African American and first woman elected to the International Olympic Committee, had a special surprise on hand for the occassion: IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who took office last month.
“I really wanted to try my best to be here, and we finally got that all figured out on, I think, Thursday evening about 5 p.m.,” Coventry told us. “I’m just really happy to be here and honour her. She deserves all of it.”
Said DeFrantz: “It’s just been quadruple-ly – if that’s a word – enhanced by the President of the IOC. I cannot believe she is here. It’s just wonderful.”
The other members of the class of 2025 are listed below:
Steve Cash (sled hockey), Susan Hagel (Para archery, Para track and field, wheelchair basketball), Flo Hyman (legend: indoor volleyball), Mike Krzyzewski (coach: basketball), Phil Knight (special contributor: Nike founder), Bode Miller (alpine skiing), Marla Runyan (Para track and field), the 2010 Four-man Bobsled Team, and the 2004 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team.