Helen Stephens
Toronto Daily Star, 10 July 1936
This article about Helen Stephens (1918-1994) isn't exactly flattering (and contains an unfortunate typo of "bed" instead of "bet").
Ms. Stephens, who was 18 at the time, went on to compete for the United States at the 1936 Olympic Games, winning the 100 metre dash and anchoring the women's 4 x 100 metre relay team. She had to endure having to pass a "gender test" after being accused of not actually being a woman. After her race, she met Adolf Hitler, who apparently pinched her bottom.
She later owned a women's semi-professional basketball team. She passed away in 1994.
The woman she was compared to, Babe Didrickson, was a gold-medal winner at the 1932 Olympics, became a successful professional golfer, and pitched in two major-league baseball spring training games.
Created April 1, 2025.