Elizabeth Anne Okino, professionally known as Betty Okino, was born in Uganda, Africa, to a Romanian mother and a Ugandan father. This remarkable individual's journey in gymnastics began after witnessing Mary Lou Retton's captivating performance in the 1984 Olympics.
Betty left her home at a very young age to pursue her dream, and her grandmother, who demonstrated unwavering support for her talent, even learned to drive at the age of 70 to transport Betty to and from the gym. This dedication and perseverance ultimately led Betty to become one of the most elegant and skillful gymnasts, creating a move that bears her name, the "Okino", a triple pirouette on the beam.
In 1992, the American team won the Bronze Medal, and Betty, alongside Dominique Dawes, made history by becoming the first African American females to win Olympic gymnastics medals. After 12 years of gymnastics, Betty retired to pursue her other passion, acting.
Gymnastics instilled in Betty tenacity, perseverance, and inner strength, propelling her into the Hollywood spotlight. Today, the Olympic Bronze medalist is captivating audiences with her acting talents in hit shows such as The District (2000),alongside Craig T. Nelson, and starring roles on Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996),Moesha (1996),Alive from Off Center (1984),MTV's Undressed (1999),and a series regular on the Disney Channel's original sports series, Z Games (1999),Cousin Skeeter (1998),The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986),Good Morning America (1975),and American Gladiators (1989).
Betty's most recent project is a lead role in the feature film Creature Unknown (2004),also known as "Inhuman", directed by Michael Burnett. Filming began on June 28, 2002, and Betty takes on the role of "Coral", a beautiful African American feisty girl. Throughout her career, Betty continues to showcase the same competitive spirit and talent that earned her the Bronze Medal.
