Vonetta Flowers

Olympic Gold Medalist and Mother

When Vonetta Flowers didn't qualify to compete in the long jump during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she thought her lifelong Olympic dreams were dashed. But then she shifted gears and set her sights on the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games as a bobsled athlete. She triumphed to become the first-ever black athlete from any nation to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

Perseverance is a theme in Flowers' life—a personal trait she used when influenza almost sidelined her, too. Not at the Olympic Games, but during a track and field meet in college, Flowers suffered from the severe symptoms of influenza, which can include fever (usually high), extreme tiredness, muscle aches, and can last for days and sometimes for weeks.

“I suffered from influenza, but I kept playing despite the fact that I was more sick than I had ever been in my life. After competing in an event, I had to be carried off the field. I've remembered that experience and since then I try to make influenza vaccination a priority each year to help make sure influenza did not get me or affect my performance ever again.”

Flowers' persevering spirit seems to have been passed on to the next generation.

In August 2002, Flowers became the mother of twin boys who were three months premature. One of her sons, Jorden, was born deaf, and has undergone several surgeries to give him the ability to hear. He is now learning to speak.

“In their short lives, my boys have already faced obstacles. But, you can be sure that I will do my best not to let influenza became another obstacle. Not if I can help it. That's why I urge my whole family to get immunized each year. I hope others do the same. Don't play with your family's health.”