Monique Henderson
2009
Spirit of the Women's Hall of Fame
Monique Henderson received Olympic Gold Medals in the 4x400m relay at the 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing) Games. The local Olympic track and field champion, at age 17 in 2000, was the youngest athlete named to the 4x400m relay team since 1976. She was the first and only girl in California high school history to win four consecutive state titles in the 400m. She graduated from San Diego's Morse High School, and while at UCLA was a five-time Pac 10 Champion. She was the 2005 NCAA 400m champion; 2002 World Junior 400m and 4x400 gold medalist; 2004 NCAA Outdoor runner-up; Five-time Pac-10 champion; and 1999 USA Junior Champion.
Outside of training time, Monique volunteered with various organizations. She helped out at the Los Angeles AIDS walk as well as San Diego's Race for a Cure. She participated at several USA track and field Be a Champion events. "I love volunteering. As a professional athlete I have a lot of free time and there's no better way to spend that time than to help people that need it." During visits to children's hospitals across the country, she spent time with terminally ill children. She has also donated to and volunteered with The Alzheimer's Association, California State Games, the March of Dimes, and the Intergenerational Games. She is also one of the top patrons of the Sports for Exceptional Athletes Organization. Her philanthropic work was featured in San Diego Magazine's Celebrity Philanthropist issue. Monique holds a master's degree in kinesiology and worked as a professor in the exercise science department at San Diego Mesa College until 2015, when she became head coach at Golden West College.