Vonetta Flowers was the first African-American to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. In an interview with Vonetta Flowers she discusses her shock and goals after her big win.

Flowers said, “I didn’t know until after my race that I was the first African-American to win a gold medal (at the Winter Olympics). You know, that’s an honor to be the first. Kids are going to be reading about me in school, can you believe it? My goal was to go into the Olympics, win a gold medal, come home, go back to work and start working on a family.”

Vonetta didn’t get the memo on being in the history books, but she’s quickly learning what her victory means to many Americans. It’s an incredible honor.

“It’s exciting. It’s an honor. I don’t see it as a burden at all. Hopefully this will just encourage kids of all races to just follow their dreams and never give up,” said Flowers.