What are you supposed to do when life has you down and you are up against a wall. Zina Garrison, Olympic gold medalist, reveals her struggles through adversity and how she was able to push through.

The first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in Tennis, Zina Garrison has been a trailblazer for black women in all sports. She even coached Venus and Serena Williams on their way to winning their own gold medal in doubles at the Beijing Olympics. She also founded the Garrison Tennis Academy in Houston, Texas, which aims to inspire more kids to pursue tennis. For the past 27 years, the Garrison Tennis Academy has provided an opportunity for future generations to fall in love with the sport. Garrison’s incredible experiences have helped shape her into the massively influential and respected woman she is today.

Videography By: Asif Ali
Edited By: Rishabh Dar
Intro Video By Charlie Hooper Zina Garrison is the first Black female to win a gold medal in tennis for the United States at the Olympics, and her contributions to the game of tennis did not stop there. As a trailblazer for Black women in sports, she coached the Williams’ sisters on their way to win a gold medal in tennis doubles at the Beijing Olympics. As founder of the Zina Garrison Tennis Academy in Houston, she worked to inspire more kids into the world of tennis. For the past 27 years, her foundation has provided an opportunity for generations of children to learn about and improve at tennis. Her incredible experiences have helped shape her into the massively influential person she is today, and we are excited for her voice to be heard on the TEDxUNTHSC stage. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx