GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced Tuesday, Florida track and field icon
Sanya Richards-Ross will headline the 12-member 2022 class of the
NFHS National High School Hall of Fame. Richards-Ross will be inducted on July 1 at the 39
th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.
The
Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame member (Class of 2015), Sanya Richards-Ross, is a St. Thomas Aquinas High School alumna with 10-individual and four-team Track and Field State Championships. She gained National recognition as she set the high school 400m record with a time of 50.69 and became a two-time Florida High School Female Athlete of the Year, the 2002 Gatorade National High School Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and the 2002 USA Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Richards-Ross’ success in high school led the way for her to continue running at the University of Texas, where she won an NCAA National Championship and earned 11 All-American honors.
After these accomplishments, Richards-Ross participated in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where she earned her first gold medal in the 4x400m relay. Then, in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, she won another gold medal in the 4x400m relay. In the London 2012 Olympics, Richards-Ross won her first individual gold medal in the 400m race and another gold in the 4x400m relay.
Richards-Ross is a champion on and off the track, as she has dedicated much of her time to women and girls in sport through many of her philanthropic endeavors. She has spent time mentoring youth through programs such as USA Track & Field’s “Be A Champion” and the University of Texas’ Longhorn Leaders, as well as her own Sanya Richards-Ross Fast Track Program.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at almost 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.
About the NFHS Hall of Fame
The National High School Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by the NFHS to honor high school athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators, performing arts coaches/directors and others for their extraordinary achievements and accomplishments in high school sports and performing arts programs. This year’s class increases the number of individuals in the Hall of Fame to just over 500. The 12 individuals were chosen after a two-level selection process involving a screening committee composed of active high school state association administrators, coaches and officials, and a final selection committee composed of coaches, former athletes, state association officials, media representatives and educational leaders. Nominations were made through NFHS member associations.