From starting blocks to big dreams: Terry’s mission beyond the track

Despite missing the full 2026 season through injury, world and Olympic 4x100m champion Twanisha ‘TeeTee’ Terry found another way to be part of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. 

The US sprinter is also a children’s book author and she supported the event in Budapest by holding a book-signing session, gifting copies of her books to children participating in the Kids’ Athletics Ultimate Challenge. Led by Ultimate Stars Letsile Tebogo and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, the activation formed part of The Day Before, a new-look pre-event media programme. 

“The Day Before was a lot of fun. I enjoyed watching Melissa and Letsile take part in the activation and engage with the children,” said Terry. “As athletes of their calibre, they have the power to make a difference and inspire young people to believe that they could one day follow in their footsteps.” 

Terry spent the rest of the weekend enjoying the new competition as a spectator and cheering on her teammates, including her close friend Jefferson-Wooden. 

“The atmosphere at the Ultimate Championship was amazing and the competition was phenomenal,” she said. “It was great to see my Star Athletics teammates put on a show, with Melissa and Kenny (Bednarek) both competing in the 100m and 200m and producing world-leading performances.” 

TeeTee’s Real Adventures  

The 27-year-old has been competing since the age of nine. Throughout her career, she has noticed that much of her fan base – whom she calls ‘Tee-Babies’ – are young children.  

Looking for a way to connect with them, Terry turned to storytelling.  

“I wanted to foster a love for reading among children and families. Then the opportunity to write my first book fell into my lap,” Terry said. “Once I had written the first book, I thought, ‘I’m not just going to stop at one. Why not do two?’ Then two became three, and I thought, ‘Okay, let’s make it a series.’”  

The three-part TeeTee’s World Adventures series comprises TeeTee’s World Adventure, TeeTee’s World Adventure: Little Steps, Big Wins, and the recently published TeeTee’s World Adventure: Travelling the Magical Tracks. 

“Through the books, I can show them: ‘You can be here as well,’” she said. “The books give children representation and allow them to see themselves in the stories.” 

Starting blocks for big dreams  

Giving back has always been important to Terry, but she wanted her impact to grow beyond returning to her former high school or helping people on an individual basis. This inspired her to launch her nonprofit Starting Blocks for Dreams Inc.  

“The nonprofit provides mentorship, education and resources to talented young people facing socio-economic challenges,” she explained. 

The nonprofit’s first mentorship programme attracted dozens of applications within days, and the response eventually became so strong that she closed applications two weeks ahead of schedule. 

Terry partnered with about 20 mentors from different occupations, including sport, the military and finance.  

The one-to-one programme prepares young people for opportunities both within and beyond sport. Mentors are carefully matched with mentees and meet at least once a month, although many connect more frequently.  

“One mother told a mentor that she had been praying for an opportunity for her daughter to learn how to succeed independently, and then this mentorship opportunity came along,” Terry said. “She was grateful and thankful. 

“I also started seeing the kids gain confidence. Some of them even went on to create small businesses, such as tutoring programmes. 

“I want to give young people the building blocks for life – from financial literacy to interview and communication skills.”  

Terry’s personal mentors 

Terry sees her own mentors not as formal guides, but more as part of the community that has supported her throughout her journey. 

Her father believed in her when she struggled to believe in herself, particularly after difficult training sessions made her question her future in the sport.  

“My dad has this saying: “If you start, you’re going to finish it.” With track, if I started that particular year, I had to finish the year,” she said. “If I decided the following year that I didn’t want to do it anymore, then okay. But if I started something, I had to finish it.” 

Her coaches have also played important roles at different stages of her career: high school coach Carmen Jackson, college coach Caryl Smith Gilbert and current Star Athletics coach Dennis Mitchell. 

Terry also looks up to sprint legend Carmelita Jeter, who surprised her with a visit during her first year at the University of Southern California. 

“She wrote a message on a photograph encouraging me to be my own cheerleader and never give up. I still have it in perfect condition today,” Terry said. 

Empowering young people and looking to the future 

Terry believes that one meaningful interaction can make a difference in a young person’s life. “Being able to empower children and show them, ‘I was once in your shoes, and I’m here now,’ is something that amazes me,” Terry said. “That’s one of my biggest things, especially with the books. Whether I’m on the track or off the track, I find different ways to pour into the youth.”  

When the mother of a young fan named Kirsten asked Terry to record a birthday video for her, Terry realised the family lived only about 40 minutes from an event she  attended in Florida. She offered to do something better: meet Kirsten in person.  

Inspired by the support she’s received throughout her career, Terry hopes to recreate that same sense of community for others. 

“I want Starting Blocks for Dreams to grow beyond Florida,” she added. “One day, I want our mentees to come together in person, build real relationships and feel part of a wider community.”  

Terry has big plans for the future. She hopes to place her books in schools across the US, publish more titles, become a keynote speaker and, most importantly, stay connected with young people beyond her athletics career.  

She also plans to open a daycare near her home, with the potential to develop it into a franchise.