Rebecca Ayars

Rebecca Ayars began running as a teenager whilst growing up in Urbana, Illinois. Whilst attending Uni High School, the track coach suggested that Ayars could use the school’s running track, where her speed and ability was first noticed. She then competed for a club team in Chicago and continued to run whilst in college. In 1956 she won the national title in the 100 metres, earning herself a place on the Olympic team for the Melbourne Games. After making the lengthy trip, however, Ayars contracted pneumonia and was replaced in the line-up for the 4 x 100 metres relay, with the American team going on to win bronze.

Ayars called time on her brief track career after returning home from Australia, later graduating from law school in Illinois. She then moved to Washington DC where she worked for more than 20 years for the former senator Roger Jepsen at the National Credit Union Administration. In 2002 Ayars was nominated by her family to carry the Olympic torch during the relay ahead of the Salt Lake City Games.