In winning the bronze medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Brown remained the only American woman ever to win an Olympic medal in the shot put until Michelle Carter won in 2016. She also placed sixth at the 1960 Olympics in the discus throw. She began her track and field career in 1956 and won the AAU shot put championship that same year with a then U. S. record of 13.72 meters/45 feet. At the Olympic Trials that year she extended her record to14.26m/46-9.50. Although she finished sixth in the shot and fourth in the discus at the 1956 Olympics, Brown set American records in both events. In 1958, she became the first American woman to break the 50-foot barrier in the shot, and ended the season ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News. Brown won the AAU outdoor shot put championship eight times, from 1956 through 1962 and in 1964. She demonstrated her versatility in winning U.S. titles in the discus in 1958, 1959, and 1961. She also won the baseball throw (since dropped from the program) in 1958, and was the gold medalist in both the shot and the discus at the 1959 Pan-American Games. Following the 1960 Olympics, Brown attended Henrietta’s Beauty College and after placing twelfth in the shot at the 1964 Olympics, Brown retired from track and field competition. Following her track and field career, Brown joined a roller derby league. Brown died May 1, 1983 at the age of 47. Events Shot Put - 16.69 m Discus Throw - 53.90 m Records Held American Record: Shot Put - 13.72 m American Record: Shot Put - 14.26 m American Record: Shot Put - 15.12 m American Record: Discus Throw - 51.40 m Championships 1956 Olympic Games: Shot Put (6th) 1956 Olympic Games: Discus Throw (4th) 1960 Olympic Games: Shot Put - 16.42 m (3rd) 1964 Olympic Games: Shot Put (12th) 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials: Shot Put - 14.26 m (1st) 1956 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 13.72 m (1st) 1957 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 13.12 m (1st) 1957 USA Outdoor Championships: Baseball Throw - 82.85 m (1st) 1958 USA Indoor Championships: Shot Put - 15.09 m (1st) 1958 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 14.46 m (1st) 1958 USA Outdoor Championships: Discus Throw - 46.47 m (1st) 1959 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 14.14 m (1st) 1959 USA Outdoor Championships: Discus Throw - 46.85 m (1st) 1960 USA Olympic Trials: Shot Put - 15.50 m (1st) 1960 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 15.15 m (1st) 1961 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 14.54 m (1st) 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials: Shot Put - 14.98 m (1st) 1964 USA Outdoor Championships: Shot Put - 14.30 m (1st) 1959 Pan-American Games: Shot Put (1st) 1959 Pan-American Games: Discus Throw (1st)