Mary Wineberg
A cornerstone of America's dominant 4x400m relay team, she claimed Olympic gold with powerhouse consistency on the world stage.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American track and field athlete·Birthday: January 3·Generation X
Biography
Mary Wineberg’s speed was her ticket from Cincinnati to the world's biggest athletic arenas. A standout at the University of Cincinnati, she honed a formidable one-lap prowess that translated seamlessly to the professional circuit. While individual medals on the global stage proved elusive, Wineberg found her ultimate calling in the relay, an event demanding flawless baton passes and absolute trust. As a key member of the U.S. women’s 4x400-meter relay squad during its era of supremacy, she embodied reliability. Her powerful strides contributed to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Wineberg’s career is a testament to the collective spirit of track and field, where a athlete’s unwavering excellence in a specific role can help build a dynasty and secure a permanent place in Olympic history.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mary was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mary Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Mary's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal as part of the U.S. women's 4x400-meter relay team at the 2008 Beijing Games.
- Secured a gold medal in the 4x400m relay at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
- Earned a silver medal with the 4x400m relay team at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
- Was a multiple-time U.S. national champion and finalist in the 400-meter dash.
Did You Know?
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Wineberg graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in education.
She is married to former University of Cincinnati and professional football player Daven Holly.
After retiring, she became a track and field coach and motivational speaker.
“My lane was the 400 meters, and the baton pass was everything.”
