She won four of the nine women's track and field events at the 1948 London Olympics.
At the time, she was 30 and the mother of two children.
She won the gold in the 100- and 200-metre sprints, the 80-metre hurdles and the 400-metre relay.
|
30 years old, mother of two ... and she won four Olympic gold medalsAssociated Press
Jan. 25, 2004
|
AMSTERDAM (AP) -- Fanny Blankers-Koen, who won a record four gold medals in track and field for the Netherlands at the 1948 Olympics, died Sunday. She was 85.
The International Association of Athletics Federations, which in 1999 honoured her as the best female athlete of the 20th century, announced her death on its website.
Blankers-Koen had been in poor health and suffering from Alzheimer's. In June, she failed to attend the FBK Games, the most prestigious track and field event in the Netherlands. The games and the stadium where they are held are named for her.
|
Fanny, winning another gold medal
|
She won four of the nine women's track and field events at the London Olympics. At the time, she was 30 and the mother of two children. She won the gold in the 100- and 200-metre sprints, the 80-metre hurdles and the 400-metre relay.
The only others to win four gold medals in track and field in a single Olympics were Jesse Owens in 1936 in Berlin and Carl Lewis in 1984 in Los Angeles.
Blankers-Koen was disbelieving when the IAAF named her the century's best athlete, a title she shared with Lewis.
"You mean it is me who has won. I had no idea!," the IAAF quoted her as saying. "When I think of all the great women athletes of this century, and the young people who are doing so well, I must say that I am surprised."
"I can still remember every detail of every heat and final in London," she added. "Thankfully, my memories are still very vivid."
She set 20 world records and 85 Dutch records in short-distance running, the pole vault, hurdles, the long jump and pentathlon.
In 1948, she was The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.
Born in 1918, Francina (Fanny) Elsje Blankers-Koen first gained attention in 1935, setting a national record in the 800-metre race when she was 17.
During a career spanning more than two decades during which she was coached by her husband, she set two world records and also won five European titles.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, she shared fifth in the high jump and was fifth in the 400-metre relay.
Published by
Associated Press
This material is copyrighted by its original publisher.
It is reprinted by Unknown News without permission, solely for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting, in accordance with the Fair Use Guidelines of copyright material under § 107 of U.S.C. Title 17.
We welcome your comments.
|
There's much more than this at Unknown News.
|
|
| |
We try not to whine too much or too loudly, but we are poor and this site eats a lot of money and time.
We couldn't do it without the help of our volunteers. And for those who can't afford the time, giving just a buck or two can make all the difference and keep Unknown News alive.
|
Talk
to Us |
Archives |
| If you have something to say, we'd love to hear from you. |
Click here for archives of recent editions of Unknown News |
|
|
