| Linetta Wilson | |
| Birth Place: | Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Headercolor: | lightsteelblue |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Linetta A. Wilson (born October 11, 1967) is a former 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the women's 4 × 400 meter relay for the United States. She competed in the opening round with Rochelle Stevens, Kim Graham, and Maicel Malone and was replaced by Jearl Miles in the Final.[1]
Wilson grew up in Pasadena, attending Muir High School. She twice placed second to Chewuakii "Choo Choo" Knighten in the CIF State Championships in a still standing fastest non-winning time,[2] She also excelled in hurdles, placing in the state meet twice. She is a member of team that may become the permanent 4 × 100 meter shuttle hurdle relay (30") High School Recordholders—the official height of the hurdles has been changed.[3]
She continued to the University of Nebraska where she won an Indoor and Outdoor NCAA National Championship and was on three of their Big 8 Championship teams.[4] Her Indoor Championship in the 500 meters set a new National Record and narrowly missed the World Record at the time.[5] During that period, Wilson was Nationally ranked in the 400 meter hurdles three times.[6] After Nebraska she competed for the Los Angeles area South Bay Track Club.
She set her Personal Record in the 400 meters of 51.02 during the semi-final of the 1996 Olympic Trials.[7]
In 2000, Wilson was convicted of sending prescription medicine through the mail and was sentenced to a year in jail.[8] She returned to competition and competed as late as 2005.[9]