Hazel Wightman
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No.90-25. In a tennis career spangled with dozens of trophies and glowing accolades, Hazel Wightman's two Olympic gold medals are sometimes overlooked. During the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, the scrappy, five-foot tall Wightman (1886-1974) paired with Helen Wills in an American victory over Great Britain's Edith Covell and Kitty McKane. Wightman then teamed with R. Norris Williams to win the gold in the mixed doubles. Yet, as great as these Olympic triumphs are, they are often overshadowed by her contributions to the game of tennis. Born on a remote ranch in California, Wightman did not play tennis until her mid-teens. Almost immediately, she brought a new style to the game. Wightman aggressively played at the net and is credited for introducing the volley to the sport. A year prior to her performance in the Paris Olympics, Wightman donated a silver trophy for women's competition between the United States and England. That competition, called the Wightman Cup, is still played today
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