Who was the first African American woman to win three gold medals in track and field?

The first African American woman to win three gold medals in track and field is Wilma Rudolph. She achieved this historic feat during the 1960 Rome Olympics, where she won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay. Her accomplishments made her a trailblazer in sports, as she was not only the fastest woman in the world at that time but also broke barriers for African American athletes, particularly women, in track and field. Rudolph's victories in Rome were particularly significant in the context of the Civil Rights Movement, symbolizing progress and inspiring future generations of athletes.

While other athletes listed also had remarkable achievements, they did not achieve the same milestone of winning three gold medals at a single Olympic event. Florence Griffith-Joyner, for example, won three golds in the 1988 Olympics, but she came after Wilma Rudolph. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, known for her excellence in the heptathlon and long jump, won gold medals but not exclusively in track events in the same categorical manner as Rudolph. Mary Decker was an accomplished middle-distance runner, but her Olympic outcomes did not include a trio of gold medals.