America's most celebrated softball player and the face of the sport at the 1996 Olympics — her home run on her birthday in the gold medal game became the defining image of softball's Olympic debut, inspiring millions of young female athletes.
Dot Richardson was born in Orlando, Florida in 1961. She is the most decorated player in the history of USA softball. She won Olympic gold medals at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 as a shortstop and was named the Defensive Player of the Year at the 1996 Olympics. She won three World Softball Championship gold medals and was a four-time collegiate All-American at UCLA. She hit the first Olympic home run in softball history at the Atlanta Games — a moment that was broadcast to an audience of millions and became one of the defining images of the Games. She became an orthopaedic surgeon, combining her medical career with continued softball advocacy and administration. She was inducted into the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
Two-time Olympic medalist in softball and orthopedic surgeon
How They Played
Versatile infielder known for clutch hitting and defensive reliability
Lasting Impact
Pioneer who helped establish women's softball as Olympic sport and broke barriers as athlete-physician
Olympic Gold 1996 (Softball)
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold 1996 (Softball)
- Olympic Silver 2000
- 12x ASA All-American
- 3x NCAA Championship