Cheryl Toussaint is an Olympic silver medalist and Colgate Women’s Games Meet Director. She chatted about her latest endeavors and shared her advice for young athletes.
On February 11, Toussaint received the Armory Presidents Award at the Millrose Games that were held at The Armory in New York for her contributions to the sport of track and field.
Cheryl Toussaint: A 2024 Armory Presidents Award Recipient
On receiving the Armory Presidents Award, Toussaint said, “It felt presidential. It was absolutely one of the greatest experiences to receive such a prestigious award in my hometown at the arena that I competed in for most of my youth and my younger life in the sport.”
“So, to receive it in front of this amazing crowd of athletes who I know and love has been really special,” she added.
Toussaint is a woman who has worn many hats throughout her career: athlete, businesswoman, meet director (Colgate Women’s Games), and an advocate for young girls and women across the country.
Background on Cheryl Toussaint
Toussaint was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She was one of the top middle distance runners in America in the 1970s. She set the indoor world record in the 600 yard run in 1970, which was the same year that she graduated from high school. She trained with iconic coach Fred Thompson and his Atoms Track Club.
Cheryl Toussaint: An Olympic Silver Medalist
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Toussaint won a silver medal for Team USA as part of the 4×400 meter relay team. She was a four-time Millrose Games champion, and she now serves on the Millrose Games Committee. In 1987, she founded Tousse Running Apparel, a supplier of custom uniforms for track and field teams.
Meet Director of the Colgate Women’s Games
In 2015, Toussaint took over the role as Meet Director of the Colgate Women’s Gates, which is the nation’s largest track and field series for women.
In these games, girls and women across the nation compete for free and win scholarships thanks to the support of long-time sponsor Colgate Palmolive.
Advice for young and aspiring athletes
For young and aspiring athletes, Toussaint said, “To never give up your dreams; to expect the unexpected and just go with it, but never give up on your dreams.”
Career-defining moments
When asked about her career-defining moments, Toussaint shared, “The moments that I didn’t perform to the level that I felt I was capable of have helped define me. Those were gut-wrenching but I learned to overcome them, and those moments defined me.”
Toussaint is a firm believer that the adverse times in her life have molded her and made her stronger.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Toussaint said, “Loving life and happy to be giving back.”
Success
Toussaint defined the word success as “doing what you believe that you are capable of doing.”
Read More: Chatting with Olympic, national, and international athletes at the 2024 Millrose Games in New York
