Although McGuire's running career was short, she won six AAU titles, in three different events. Her specialty, however, was the 200m/220 y, in which she won four of her six national titles. In 1964, she was undefeated in her favorite event, and went to Tokyo as the main contender for the 200m gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1]
McGuire first competed in the 100m in Japan, and lost out in the final to teammate Tyus. But in the 200m final, she held off Poland's Irena Kirszenstein to take the gold medal. She added a third medal to her tally as a member of the American 4 × 100m relay team, which placed second to Poland.
