Aeriwentha “Mae” Faggs was born in Mays Landing, New Jersey, on April 10, 1932 and grew up in Bayside, New York, in Queens. She first attracted attention for her athletic ability while participating in Police Athletic League events, and she was named to the United States Olympic team for the 1948 summer games in London at the age of 16. After graduating from Bayside High School, Faggs was recruited by legendary track and field coach Ed Temple to attend Tennessee A&I University (now Tennessee State University), where she was a member of the nationally successful Tigerbelles track and field team. Faggs was again a member of the United States Olympic team for the 1952 summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, where she won a gold medal as a member of the women’s 4X100 meters relay. She also won a gold medal in the 4X100 meters relay and a silver medal in the 100 meters run at the 1955 Pan American Games, in addition to several United States national championships in the mid-1950s. Faggs was again a member of the United States Olympic team for the 1956 games in Melbourne, Australia. After retiring from competition, she taught high school including at Wayne High School in Lockport, Ohio, and Lincoln Heights High School in Hamilton County, Ohio. Mae Faggs died on January 27, 2000, in Cincinnati, Ohio.