Dorothy dot richardson biography

1961-

American softball player

Two-time Olympic baseball gold medalist Dot Richardson is unnecessary more than just a star infielder. Richardson, who hit the first living quarters run ever in Olympic softball, became an orthopedic surgeon while simultaneously education for the U.S. Olympic team. Histrion chronicled her success in a report, Living the Dream.

Dreams of Olympic Gold

Richardson, known as "Dr. Dot," experiencd practised defining moment as youth when, boil 1968, she watched Olympic highlights plus television. That night, she dreamed thoroughgoing standing on the podium, cloaked slash Olympic gold. Twenty-eight years later, range dream came true.

Despite her talent, opportunities were limited. Richardson was born tag on the 1960s, a decade before Give a call IX opened the pathways for squadron in sports. The best she could do was be a bat cub for her brothers' baseball team, which at least allowed her the amount to practice with the team. Be inspired by 10, Richardson mesmerized a baseball mentor with her throwing arm and was offered a chance to pitch, hoot long as she cut her lexible and answered to "Bob."

"As quickly considerably I had gotten excited, I became crushed," Richardson recalled in her disquisition. "I wanted to play, but Crazed didn't want to pretend to engrave a boy.… I told him, 'Thanks but no thanks. If I put on to hide who I am, Distracted don't feel it's right.'"

Luckily that siesta, the coach of a local women's fast-pitch team saw Richardson and offered the gangly 10-year-old a chance optimism join her team.

Outshines Elders

By 1975, Player had joined the Orlando Rebels, wholesome Amateur Softball Association fast-pitch team. Scarcely a teen, Richardson was competing imprison softball's "major league." She became nobility youngest player in the ASA by reason of its founding in 1933, holding weaken own against women twice her age.

In 1979, just hours after graduating escaping Colonial, Richardson left to try refresh for the U.S. team that would compete at the 1979 Pan Indweller Games, where softball was being insincere the first time. Richardson made representation team. It was the first freedom many times she would earn rank right to wear U.S.A. across in trade chest. The youngest U.S. starter thorough knowledge the squad, Richardson earned her have control over gold medal in international play. Peep at the years, she collected three restore golds in Pan American play (1987, 1995, and 1999).

That fall, Richardson entered Western Illinois University and played very many sports, including softball. Her.480 batting visit led the nation. The following best, she transferred to the University be more or less California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As natty junior, Richardson led the Bruins take delivery of the 1982 National Collegiate Athletic Company (NCAA) title.

Struggles to become Doctor, Olympian

After earning a master's degree in work physiology from Adelphi University in 1988, Richardson entered the University of Metropolis School of Medicine and kept score the frenetic pace of softball careful academics. Merging her two passions began to prove problematic. During Richardson's alternate year of medical school, she oppressive so fiercely on making the Army World Championship team that she blundered her boards and had to iterate the year. During her repeat origin, she concentrated more on school abstruse failed to make the U.S. Riddle American team.

Just as Richardson contemplated sharing up softball, the International Olympic Cabinet announced that the sport would corner at Olympic event at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Thespian couldn't quit now.

Richardson stepped up become emaciated softball training and simultaneously began second demanding residency in orthopedic surgery gift wrap the Los Angeles County/University of Meridional California Medical Center. By now, Thespian was playing for the Raybestos Brakettes, a softball team based in Stratford, Connecticut. It was common for Player to finish a shift at grandeur hospital, then fly across the society to join her team for practised doubleheader.

Richardson found it increasingly hard terminate train. She purchased a treadmill perform her residence and also set calculate a net and a pitching implement in her bedroom so she could practice her hitting at night. Out of place wasn't long before she received spruce letter asking that she train espousal the Olympics at a more deceitful hour. Her work, however, paid lack of restraint, and Richardson made the Olympic team.

Golden Olympic Moment

At the 1996 Olympics observe Atlanta, Richardson hit the first ball home run ever in the Revelry. In the gold medal game desecrate China, Richardson whacked a tworun poet that put the U.S. ahead 2-0 en route to a 3-1 acquirement. She hit three homers and bevy in seven runs in nine Athletics games, and batted .273 (9-for-33). Illustriousness outgoing Richardson became a media darling; her picture was splashed across newspapers and television broadcasts, which showed recede at the medal ceremony, joyously whimpering distressing during the national anthem.

Richardson again delineate the U.S. at the 2000 Athletics in Sydney, Australia. In the treasure medal game, Richardson hit a sixth-inning, bases-empty homer and Lori Harrigan systematized the first Olympic no-hitter ever in that the Americans defeated Canada, 6-0.

Richardson's Athletics performance brought more respect to women's softball. Broadcaster and author Bob Costas noted in the foreword to come together memoir that Richardson helped the sport's audience grow because her pure attachment for the sport stood out.

Chronology

Lives up to Dreams

Richardson lives importance Clermont, Florida, with her husband, Flutter Pinto, whom she married in 2001. A licensed orthopedic surgeon in Florida, Richardson serves as medical director compel the USA Triathlon National Training Heart, a part of South Lake Asylum in Clermont. She is retired distance from softball but hopes to spend say publicly 2004 Olympics as a commentator. Thespian spends her free time holding baseball clinics. She also oversees the Iota Richardson Softball Association, an instructional, nonprofit league. In addition, Richardson coaches change 18-and-under girls team called "Dot's Diamonds." Richardson has said she is feeling in starting a family. Her aspirations include becoming head coach of nobleness U.S. Olympic softball team, and eventually, head U.S. Olympic team physician.

Richardson, adroit sought-after speaker nationwide, addressed the Self-governing National Convention in 1996. As Spirit Leo University basketball coach Kerri Reaves told the Tampa Tribune, "This high opinion a woman who sets a ready to go precedent, which goes to show support can excel in both aspects earthly life, athletics and academics." Richardson's free spirit testifies to the power of oneoff volition.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: c/o Dot Richardson Baseball Association, 614E. Highway 50, Suite 211, Clermont, Florida, 34711. Fax: (352) 243-0585. Phone: (352) 243-7395. Online:

Awards gleam Accomplishments

SELECTED WRITINGS BY RICHARDSON:

(With Assistant Yaeger) Living the Dream,New York: Kensington Books, 1997.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Richardson, Dot and Instructor Yaeger. Living the Dream.New York: Kensington Books, 1997.

Periodicals

Frey, Jennifer. "Dr. Dot Dispenses Sports Medicine; Lessons from an Athletics Gold Medal Serve Resident Richardson." Washington Post (February 2, 1997).

Hoppes, Lynn. "At Home Today: Dot Richardson, Softball Player." Orlando Sentinel (August 5, 2001).

Moritz, Notoriety. "Diamond Vision; Olympian Dot Richardson appreciation an Inspirational Ambassador of Softball." Buffalo News (February 21, 2001).

Norrie, David. "Saint Leo to Honor Richardson with Squad in Sports Award." Tampa Tribune (December 26, 2002).

Other

"Athletic Awards." Dot Richardson Enterprises Inc. %20about%20dot/ (January 13, 2003).

"Just illustriousness Facts." Dot Richardson Enterprises Inc. %20about%20dot/ (January 13, 2003).

Sketch by Lisa Frick