(insects chirping) (baby crying) (gentle instrumental music) - [Narrator] One of seven children, Lucile Ellerbe Godbold, born just three years shy of that historic flight at Kitty Hawk, at a time when doctors still made house calls.

1900, that was a year that six American females were allowed to compete for the first time in an Olympic event.

22 years later in Paris, this South Carolina girl would be one of thirteen representing the United States, in the first Women's International Track and Field Olympics.

Her classmates at Winthrop College had each given $1 towards her trip.

She would not disappoint them.

The tallest girl on the American team, she would break the world's record in the shot put with the heave of just over 35 feet.

She would also place third in both the thousand meter and the javelin.

And from the United States, she would win a gold for the hop, step, jump and a silver for the basketball throw.

The winner of more medals than any other contestant.

Known by her teammates and friends, as Ludy.

(gentle piano music) ♪ Silhouette in moments worth the keeping ♪ ♪ Running in to view ♪ The catch a daze of you ♪ When the world was smiling just for you ♪ ♪ And somewhere in laughter ♪ Somewhere in the courage gather ♪ ♪ There remember every flourish ♪ ♪ Our laughter - He said I'd have to get up at the crack of dawn and go out there and wouldn't be anything but the frost and the birds singing (interviewer laughs) and me running around that field.

- [Interviewer] Yeah, by yourself.

- Just by myself.

We had our regular track meet at Winthrop College, and all the schools in the country were supposed, who had track meets who were supposed to let the committee of which Dr. Stewart, you know, was head of.

At least, I think it was a committee, and let them know if any of the participants had equaled or broken an American record.

And in my meet, and our meet at Winthrop College, I broke three American records, which was the discus and the shot and the hop, step, jump.

And on that basis, of course, I was selected to - To go- - try in New York, - Oh, in New York.

- in St. Paul.

Just previous to going to Europe, we had practice every day and near the end of it, we tried to find out who's best in each event.

And it was decided, I don't know by whom, that we could have at least two participants in each event.

- How did you practice on the Aquitania?

You were in that for what, six days going across?

(horn buzzing) - [Ludy] I think it was six.

- How did you practice there?

- Well, we could...

The deck as well as I recall, if we'd run around it twice, well, it was a certain distance, and don't ask me now what the distance was, but it was good enough to practice my race.

- Well, you couldn't practice a javelin, could you - on the deck?

- No, I ain't throwing the javelin.

- Or discus?

- The fish object.

(interviewer laughs) - To throw in.

- Yeah.

- You were only 22, what struck you about Paris?

- Well, I think I was surprised that I wasn't really the most surprised that than I was.

Meaning that buildings and things I had heard about so long and had seen pictures of.

They just seemed to be what the picture said it was.

And we never went anywhere unchaperoned.

In fact, Dr. Stewart and the other coaches decided that most of us were too young to go to a Paris nightclub.

But they did take a few of us that were over.

- [Interviewer] Did you go?

- I certainly did.

(interviewer laughs) - [Interviewer] Well, they had five countries represented.

- [Ludy] Yeah.

- [Interviewer] What England, France and- - [Ludy] Sweden, Czechoslovakia.

- And the United States.

- and United States - [Interviewer] They had a parade, is that right?

- [Ludy] Yeah, the way they do now, you have, of course, it's so much larger, for each country you see they have some, one member of the team to carry the national flag and this one, of course, I mean I was out, they chose me to carry it.

I was the one that they picked to carry the flag and I guess I got a little thrill out of that.

- (laughs) Did they give you the flag?

Where's the flag?

- I don't know where that flag is and I'm not going anywhere to find- (interviewer laughs) - We have your pants.

Let me, hand the pants over here a second.

Now these are what you wore in the Olympics?

- A pool thing, but mine own.

- (laughs) But these were- - That's right, they had a little- - Which that said Spalding in there.

Did Spalding make the pants?

- Yeah.

- Spalding Brothers?

- Yeah, Spalding is one of the oldest in the country and one of the best.

Still is, I think they still.

- Well, I thought she said that Spalding put a book out that they had pictures in there.

- Well, you have to - The book which you - bring that up.

- Yeah, that's what I'm bringing up.

- That's true.

- This is what I wanna know.

- And to my surprise.

I got this book track.

It was on track and put out by Spalding and they had in a number of illustrations.

Course I never dreamed that I got the book that I'd see my picture in there.

But what they had done was at the meet that we had before we went to Paris.

They'd taken pictures of the different contestants, you know, doing whatever the events they were in.

And so as I thumbed through the book, I'd see this picture (interviewer laughs) and there was something about it I recognize.

These big black bloomers (interviewer laughs) and mini blinds, pants that's going over the hurdles.

And it looked about like a buzzard loafing over the sides.

(interviewer laughs) And under it said the wrong way to do the hurdles.

- And that was you?

- Yeah, of course, (interviewer laughs) I had won it, so I didn't care too much.

But I thought they had a nerve to put me in there.

If it just been that one, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, but doing something else, they say, "The runner on the right is not doing so and so."

And it would be a picture of me.

(interviewer laughs) Another one was the shot put that I saw and I almost dropped dead.

(interviewer laughs) They said, "The correct way to do the shot."

(people cheering) I think the first thing I was in was the preliminaries for the 300 meters.

In that one, you see they took the time to see, and so you knew a little bit about the time you made in the heats.

See and, of course, I won my heat, which made me eligible.

And nothing could hit me from being in it, you see.

But I think that that was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life, was to when my coach told me that since I had to run the thousand meter immediately after the 300 meter, that he did not want me to run fast, that I was just to trot through it.

And so- - [Interviewer] So you would purposely not even try?

- Yeah, because he didn't want me to get tired at all because I had to run the thousand meter.

Well, I couldn't see it because the old story, I thought I had a bird in the hand.

(interviewer laughs) And, but evidently he knew.

And see, he knew I had a place in it since they had four places and there's just gonna be four of us in it.

And so, I begged him like a dog to let me do it.

- [Interviewer] Why didn't you just do it once you were out there?

- He ain't dang, I had to bring my torch.

(interviewer laughs) So he- - [Interviewer] What could he do if you were out there running and you would have gotten first probably?

- Yeah, and they'd put me out for the rest of it.

I wouldn't never won the shot either.

Well, anyway, (interviewer laughs) that's why and rather amusing to me, of course, the whole thing about that, after I got, so I had to do it.

And so they started out like that side of, you know what, and there I was just trotting along, and, yeah, there all these spectators.

I realized suddenly that here was the the president of my college had gone to Europe that summer.

He made it the point of being there, see for this Olympics.

And a few people that I knew, and then all the spectators and I thought, well, what are they going to think that I'm doing?

They must think I'm crazy.

(interviewer laughs) Oh, I guess I was over halfway.

I just said to myself, "Well, they're not gonna be any doubt in their minds because I'm gonna show them I'm not trying."

So I started skipping (interviewer laughs) and I skipped the rest of the way.

And when I crossed that line here came some of my teammates with some weeds and dead flowers and presents them to me.

And see, I wasn't tired.

I don't think any of the other people that were in the 300 were in the thousand meter, but it seems to me as many as people as they could get, they must have had in that thousand meter.

Because when we drew places for the lanes, I, lucky me, drew the last outside lane.

That meant that if I ever wanted to get the inside lane, I had to be two strides ahead of the person next to me on the left.

I've said since I was on the right inside track left before I could cut in on that person.

So, that meant I had to run faster than she ran.

Then when I got ahead of her, to get ahead of another one, I had to run two more strides ahead of that.

And I had to keep up.

In other words, I still contend that I practically kill myself trying to get the lead, which I was told I oughta try to get inside track, you see.

Well, I got it.

And I held it for (people cheering) over half the way, when I find out that it would pay me not to try to stay in the lead, but to get back to somebody and let somebody else set the pace, which I don't think I'm sure the person that won it could have kept me from getting ahead of her.

She wanted to but I didn't mind because I'd been told that if somebody sets the pace and if it's any wind, anything, well, they'll prevent that from retarding my progress.

So, I did, and either another girl, one other girl, I think I'm right, then.

It got ahead of me, see, and that meant that the one that was leading it nearly the last, I said, the last third of it.

I had there was one person between me and the leader, and so, I knew in a few minutes I was gonna have to, if I was gonna do it at all, get ahead of one in front of me.

So about the time that I decided that that's what I was going to do, that girl just fell sprawling in front of me.

And I was so close to her that I couldn't do a thing but just leapfrog and then fall all the way across her.

And I was, when I felt anything that I knew what was wrong, my hands were bleeding, my knees were bleeding, it's in the track.

And by the time I got up, I think practically everybody in it and there had to be, there was two from each, you know, it had to be 10 at least.

Anything and more but it seemed to be like more that, then I looked ahead and saw that I was behind.

So, I finally got up as I saying, I did all I could and I got ahead of all but three, as well as I remember.

And that's about the time that the coach comes around following you in the track and said, "Now turn on the speed.

(interviewer laughs) Now's the time to turn on speed."

And I was saying to myself, "Lord, just let me live long enough to get across that starting line.

That's all I want."

When I went over to take part in the shot put , they always announced since there wasn't too many, that you had to go over to the whatever they were holding.

And when I saw the woman, I don't know if I had seen her before or not, that held the record.

I just gave up, because I thought nobody could put a shot any further than that woman.

She was as tall as I was and as big as an ox.

(interviewer laughs) I bet her arms were as big a round as my thighs.

(interviewer laughs) And I just, well, I said, "Now that's the one thing I wanted to do.

I came to put the shot.

I sure hope I can do something, but I don't believe I'll ever beat her.

(people cheering) (interviewer laughs) - [Interviewer] What was Dr. Stewart doing?

- He yelled at me, "Come over to South Carolina Mountain air, put that thing over the moon."

But I don't know if that helped me, but I'll put it that was my best put.

And it was, well, I think and then you'll see.

(joyful instrumental music) I wouldn't say that was the biggest thrill I got out of the Olympics time when I realized that they were raising that flag because I had won something.

You know, that I was really thrilled and all these photographers trying to get your attention and they had any number of things that they could do, you know, that you naturally look at that one for a second.

So, and all this going on (interviewer laughs) and they playing the Star Spangled Banner and all.

As I said, just I believe that was the most thrilling thing to me- - Did tears come to your eyes?

- I don't know that I shed many tears.

(both laugh) Anyway, I did three of them.

- Now you've got the metals here, you never display them?

(medals tinkling) - No, I don't.

- So, these are the... Now these are the silver.

This is the silver one you were talking about.

This is what - Yeah, - the United States gave.

- uh-huh.

But it was considered a gold medal.

What I mean is it was in first place are usually called the gold medal, you see.

But America had two events that the other countries didn't have.

And one of them was a hop, step, jump, which I won.

- [Interviewer] And this is what France gave.

And that's the gold one that you won.

So after- - I don't believe anybody is ever takes part in an Olympic.

And now some of the ones who've been in them a number of times, certainly the first time that they wouldn't be real thrilled at that knowing, you know, it's all for you and your country.

(gentle piano music) - When I got to Estill, the little town that I live in, and I still have a sister lives there and I call it home.

They had a big day and they had the big platform built out in the middle of the main street and they had the governor and the mayor and one or two other speakers and Louie Godbold.

(both giggles) That was big.

- Are you- - And so they went all out and then that night they had a big dancing, big reception and all this stuff.

They even been all out and they have a little tiny park, you know, by the highway.

And so what they did was to have this mark in it, it was just recently done.

It mentioned about the Olympics, but it also told any honors I had.

We got back the latter part of August.

I had to start teaching at Columbia College, it was in early September.

- In the fall of 1922?

- Right.

- They did not have a gymnasium?

- No, neither did they have anybody in the fall of 1917.

(both laughs) But they told us, told me, the president told me the first day I arrived at Columbia College that they were thinking about building a gymnasium, and they were gonna have it very soon.

And so that was in 1922.

(interviewer laughs) And when they got it was 19... - [Interviewer] It was 69, 70.

Was when they got it.

Well, did you think, - That's sometime.

- [Interviewer] why did you stay there so long waiting on that gym?

You should have gone back to Winthrop.

- Well, I suppose some people said I was just stupid.

(both laughs) But I don't feel that way at all.

I tell you, it didn't take me long to get the place where I had a great deal about Columbia College.

And I liked it very well, quite well.

And we had any number of campaigns from that time on to raise money for say, a dormitory and a gymnasium or science hall and a gymnasium or an auditorium and a gymnasium and so on.

But it always would never raise enough for both buildings.

But we'd get the other building if we borrowed some more money maybe to put with it.

They never raised enough for two buildings ever.

And I know the last one that I think they had, I think I'm right, this was to raise money for an auditorium and it was gonna be a music building with an big auditorium and a gymnasium.

No, I don't mean gyms gonna be part of that building, but those are two buildings.

Well, when it was all over, the campaign, they didn't have enough to build either one.

So they settled (interviewer laughs) for Cottingham Theater.

- [Interviewer] When you went there in 1922, they had a fire in 1909 and everything had burned.

(siren blaring) The next fire was in 1964.

Were you in the dormitory then where the fire was?

- [Ludy] No, it didn't hit my dormitory, but we thought it would.

It didn't start in the dormitory.

It started in the main building, but nobody knows exactly how it started.

- [Interviewer] Nobody wants to tell.

(laughs) - [Ludy] Well, I have all kinds of theories and everybody else does too, I suppose.

But I mean, we don't know.

Nobody really knows that.

I know maybe somebody that actually set the fire, who knows?

I know it was the biggest blessing that ever happened to Columbia College.

Maybe the college set it on fire, who knows?

No- (interviewer laughs) The people gave us something like $300,000 that year and we had insurance on it.

(birds chirping) My mother not only finished Columbia College, but she taught English and calisthenics, I can remember.

And my mother was president of the Temperance Union, yet when we had a bad cold or something, she'd take a little sugar and put it in a teaspoon and put a drop or two of something.

I thought it was whiskey (interviewer laughs) in it.

And she was the one that's only had them, and it was good for whatever age at that time.

Yeah, I have had a desire to smoke.

I don't like it.

I mean, I knew my mother was against anybody smoking.

- [Interviewer] Well, what did you do when you were doing takeoffs at the faculty follies at Columbia College and you did Flaming Maine, you had a cigarette long extended cigarette.

- Yeah, you call that smoking?

- No, I- - I did smoke it, (interviewer laughs) I mean that one cigarette and I didn't inhale it, but I didn't inhale it.

- Well, it wasn't- I wanted to it to come out, and that's what I do.

I had a cigarette light up at this long and it was the end of it and it was part of my act.

I said the doctor told me to stay away from cigarettes and this is about as far as I've been able to get.

(both laughs) And I puff all this smoke out to them.

- [Interviewer] Didn't they have a little honky tonk music as you strutted around on stage?

- [Ludy] I strutted it around, but I think I did a capella.

(both laugh) (upbeat jazz music) - [Interviewer] Well, what were some of the other things you said I've forgotten with some- - Did I said when?

- [Interviewer] When you were doing the takeoff of flaming mane at faculty follies.

I know you gotta remember.

- Well, my biggest one was (laughs) that my doctor said that I had to be careful.

I think I brought from the body about cigarettes when he said, because I wasn't in too good health and he didn't have much to work on.

(interviewer laughs) And I told him, I said, "Well, I may not have much, but what I got, I can highly recommend it."

(both laugh) (upbeat jazz music) - [Interviewer] See, I saw that, I think 68 was the last year that you did that.

Are you gonna do that aagain?

- Not if I can help you.

(interviewer laughs) Well, I retired officially around 1967 or something like that.

But if the school wants you to continue teaching and you are willing to do it.

You come back from year to year, and that's what I'm on now, I teach part-time.

I get my greatest satisfaction in teaching physical education.

Not necessarily trying to turn out a few top winners, but it's what you do for that girl who's going to never get anything along that line unless she's required to do it.

And you'll see if some little girl come out and she has no confidence in herself and has no nothing in the world that would make you think she'd ever hit a ball or anyway.

But the point is, she wants to do it, but she's almost ashamed to do it because she knows she can't, because she had no coordination or anything.

And when I take on a girl like that and I can help her get when this semester's over where she can even hit a ball over the neck good.

I've had them where I've had a half an hour spent on one girl just swinging her hand, having her swing or bounce the ball and swing around and she'd miss it.

She'd swing and she'd miss it.

(interviewer laughs) She'd go over the top.

And so help me, and I didn't take her half an hour before she'd hit the ball.

And then it wouldn't be over the net, it'd be somewhere.

And I tell my girls, of course, if you're on a tennis team, you got to wanna win.

But it doesn't mean that's all it is.

You're not playing just to win.

But that's certainly one thing you wanna do.

So what I mean, I mean you play your best see and then if you wanna lose, it doesn't matter.

And that's my philosophy and that's what I'm stuck with, that's what I'm glad I have.

(interviewer laughs) (ball thuds) I saw that little old Bobby Ridge when he was in his prime and he played good tennis.

But he certainly didn't play any good tennis that Billy Jean King.

- [Interviewer] (laughs) He got a win.

- [Ludy] There's certain things that Billy Jean does, that looked better than Everett.

Everett angers me every time I see her play.

And yet she's the world's best tennis player, considering.

Because she, if I make this statement again.

I don't mind anybody saying I'm a stupid.

If I could play tennis the way she plays or one or two of the others as well as they play, I'd play better tennis.

They never want to run to the net or go to the net and she could end that on CC.

(interviewer laughs) You hit it to me, I hit it to you.

You hit it to me, I hit it to you.

On and on till one of them just the long rally is gonna make one of 'em miss it.

Why do you wanna just stand there and do something that you could end in two minutes instead of five minutes sometimes?

They have a round of volley and they go volley and volley and volley and volley and they have many a chance to just go up.

You don't have to go all the way to the net, go halfway and slap the ball down.

Good net players, they don't stand right at the net so many times they play around the service court line or somewhere.

But my point is, you don't have to go all the way to do what I'm saying and they don't do it.

Now I know if I could play as well as they play now, I can't play as well as a Jack like- - [Interviewer] Well, you won in 1925, you went here at the city- (both laugh) - Yeah, I was in a tournament.

But anyway, that's what I was speaking about.

- [Interviewer] And you still enjoy going out and playing today?

- [Ludy] Oh, yeah, I play, you know, I had to wreck and I broke my hip and I can't move as fast as I like to move, but I like to try.

- [Interviewer] So, you never will retire then.

- Oh, yeah, I ain't, yeah man.

(interviewer laughs) I mean, I'll retire when I wanna or they said they want me to retire.

I think it would be more or less a mutual thing when it happens.

I mean, I hope so.

But my point is, as long as I feel like I can do a good job and frankly, I think I'm a better teacher, every year I teach.

But you don't mind the conceit, but I'm not vain, but I am conceited it.

They said there are times when you know that you know that you know.

And that's what I know that I can teach tennis all right.

So I mean I play, I don't play basketball anymore, but I can, every now and then I throw a ball on that goal or something, but I don't want to teach it.

You see, I was so tired teaching on an outdoor court was a hard court at that.

And I had to do practically all the work that's ever done on and then I didn't have one inch of ground.

I had to make a basketball court, but nothing was said that they had to do anything from me.

So I just got my trusted little hole in wake and whatnot.

And I went to work and I finally have feel big enough that we could play.

Now I'll have to tell the truth because after I started on the basketball court, I got a little help.

I had to have some clay and so I asked 'them if they'd get the clay.

So they got some, and it was so sandy, I had to look for a more clay.

But anyway, one day I think they let some of the maintenance people help work on it and there were about two of them.

And I was then, so help me hand, I did more than the two men put together and twice as fast.

I never saw that slow workers.

All through the years I was at Columbia College until we got that gym, I heard girls say if only we had a gym and a swimming pool.

Oh, they say a gym.

Oh, they had swimming pool.

We wouldn't mind Columbia, we wouldn't mind coming outdoors.

And I thought all my life there, I wished that I could, before I retired I could have an indoor basketball court.

I didn't care if they had nothing else with it.

Just the indoor basketball court and all of 'them doing Roosevelt's administration.

How many PWAs in, every kind of initial you can have that.

They had people building gyms for every little old high school in the state, all over the country.

And yet we didn't have a gym.

And so I said, "'ll be so glad when we get it, so I can coach basketball in a gym."

Okay, I don't let retire, but I'm still doing full-time work for, we didn't have another person to take it over and the president had asked me to stay.

So I asked full-time head department.

So we got Mr. Hodges, somebody that could teach swimming.

'Cause I was not going teach swimming, I just didn't want to teach swimming.

So second semester came out, he didn't have a student to take it.

So he said, "Ms. Lu, what am I going to do?"

And I said, "Well, which one of the number of things we have would you rather teach?"

He said basketball.

(interviewer laughs) So I never got to coach basketball in the gym.

And that's the end of that little story.

(gentle piano music) (birds chirping) - [Interviewer] Well, how many years have you been at Columbia College?

- Do I have to tell you?

- Yeah.

- 52.

(interviewer laughs) - What?

- Since 1922 This must be the 50.

- [Interviewer] You never took off a year to go travel?

- [Ludy] I haven't much taken off since I started, right.

I just never had- ♪ Somewhere in the laughter ♪ If the memories ever gather ♪ For in each one like gave meaning ♪ ♪ For in each one time for dreaming ♪ ♪ Silhouette in moments worth for keeping ♪ ♪ Running into view to catch a daze of you ♪ ♪ When the world was smiling ♪ Just for you ♪ And somewhere in laughter