Editing Wyomia Tyus (section)

== Personal life ==
Tyus grew up in a primarily white neighborhood and became aware of her race and of [[racial segregation]] at an early age. She was forced to take an hour bus ride to school each day, in spite of the fact that there was a white school within walking distance.<ref name="WC" /> Racial divide in her neighborhood also prevented Tyus from playing with the white girls that lived nearby and as the nearest black family lived almost a mile away, Tyus spent most of her time playing sports with her brothers and the white boys in the neighborhood.<ref name="WC" /> As she grew older her father helped to solidify the idea that she could accomplish anything in her life, but not without hard work to overcome racial stigma.<ref name="WC" />

After finishing high school Tyus attended Tennessee State University (TSU), making her the first of her family to go to college.<ref name="WC" /> While at TSU Tyus participated in the Tigerbelles collegiate team.<ref name="ASN">{{cite web|url=http://americansportsnet.com/news/greatest-moments-tennessee-states-tigerbelles-set-olympic-standard|title=ASN HEROES OF BLACK HISTORY Ed Temple created TSU's legendary Tigerbelles|publisher=American Sports Net|last1=BAMBACH|first1=MIKE|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> Tyus began training with TSU coach [[Ed Temple]], but poor grades, study habits, and a general lack of interest in classes nearly derailed Tyus's chances to continue her training and attend the 1964 Olympics.<ref name="WC" /> She has credited her training with Coach Temple as helping with her development and success in sporting, academic, and professional life, especially as he highlighted the struggle that comes with being a black athlete and having to work harder to receive positive recognition.<ref name="WC" />

In December 1968, Tyus moved with her then boyfriend from Georgia to California, where she worked as a substitute teacher.<ref name="WC" /> She married her boyfriend Art Simburg in 1969 and held multiple jobs until becoming a teacher in 1971.<ref name="WC" /> Tyus left this job within a year in order to stay at home with her first child.<ref name="WC" /> Tyus's first marriage ended in 1974 and in 1978 she married Duane Tillman, with whom she had her second child, a son.<ref name="WC" />