American athlete
Helen Stephens
Full name Helen Herring Stephens[1] Nickname(s) The Fulton Flash[1] Nationality American Born February 3, 1918[1] Fulton, Missouri [1] Died January 17, 1994(1994-01-17) (aged 75)[1] St. Louis, Missouri [1] Height 5 ft 11+ 1 ⁄2 in (182 cm)[1] Weight 154 lb (70 kg)[1] Sport Athletics Event(s) 100 m, 200 m, shot put, discus throw Personal best(s) 100 yd – 10.4 (1935) 100 m – 11.5 (1936) 200 m – 24.1 (1936) shot put −13.70 m (1937) discus – 39.50 m (1936)
Helen Herring Stephens (February 3, 1918 – January 17, 1994) was an American athlete and a double Olympic champion in 1936.
Biography [ ]
Stephens, nicknamed the "Fulton Flash" after her birthplace, Fulton, Missouri , was a strong athlete in sprint events—she never lost a race in her entire career—and also in weight events such as the shot put and discus throw . She won national titles in both categories.
When she was 18, Stephens participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics . There she won the 100 m final, beating reigning champion and world record holder, Stanisława Walasiewicz (aka Stella Walsh) of Poland .[2] [3] Stephen's time of 11.5 s was below the world record , but was not recognized because a strong tailwind was blowing at the time of the race. Next, Stephens anchored the American 4 × 100 m relay team that won the Olympic title after the leading German team dropped its baton.
Stephens is quoted by Olympic historian, David Wallechinsky, about her post-race experience with Adolf Hitler .[3] "He comes in and gives me the Nazi salute. I gave him a good, old-fashioned Missouri handshake," she said. "Once more Hitler goes for the jugular vein. He gets hold of my fanny and begins to squeeze and pinch, and hug me up. And he said: 'You're a true Aryan type. You should be running for Germany.' So after he gave me the once over and a full massage, he asked me if I'd like to spend the weekend in Berchtesgaden." Stephens refused.[3] [4]
Stephens retired from athletics shortly after the games and played professional baseball and softball . She attended William Woods University , Fulton High School, and Middle River School in Fulton. From 1938–1952, she was the owner and manager of her own semi-professional basketball team; she was the first woman to own and manage a semi-professional basketball team.[5] She was employed for many years in the Research Division of the U.S. Aeronautical Chart and Information Service (later, a part of the Defense Mapping Agency ) in St. Louis , Missouri.
Her longtime partner was Mabel O. Robbe (née Wires), a dietician at Francis Shimer College .[6] [7]
In 1993, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame .[8]
She died in Saint Louis at age 75.[9]
Gender [ ]
At the 1936 Olympics, it was suggested that both Stephens and Stanisława Walasiewicz were, in fact, male.[10] The Olympic Committee performed a physical check on Stephens and concluded that she was a woman.[11]
Bibliography [ ]
The Life of Helen Stephens – The Fulton Flash , by Sharon Kinney Hanson, 2004.
References [ ]
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Helen Stephens" . sports-reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015 .
^ Alan Gould (December 15, 1936). "Helen Stephens is best athlete: Missouri's Olympic star wins Associated Press honor" . Lawrence Journal-World . Retrieved August 23, 2016 .
^ Jump up to: a b c Gillon, Doug. "Hitler pinched my bottom" . The Herald . Retrieved October 7, 2008 .
^ Kinney-Hanson, Sharon (2004). The life of Helen Stephens: the Fulton Flash. Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN 0-8093-2559-4 .
^ "Did you know?" . Mc Cook Gazette . November 7, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2016 .
^ "In Memoriam - 31 Oct 1986, Fri • Main Edition • Page 20" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch : 20. 1986. Retrieved January 22, 2018 .
^ "The State Historical Society of Missouri collection on Helen Stephens – Biographical Sketch" (PDF) . Retrieved June 7, 2018 .
^ National Women's Hall of Fame, Helen Stephens
^ "Olympic start Stephens dies" . Times-News (Henderson, NC) . January 19, 1994. Retrieved August 23, 2016 .
^ "Caster Semenya expected to be affected by IAAF rule changes" . BBC Sport . Retrieved April 26, 2018 .
^ "Helen Stephens is real girl" . Harrisburg Telegraph . August 6, 1936. p. 14. Retrieved August 23, 2016 .
show Olympic champions in women's 100 metres
show
1928 Rosenfeld , Smith , Bell , Cook (CAN )
1932 Carew , Furtsch , Rogers , von Bremen (USA )
1936 Bland , Rogers , Robinson , Stephens (USA )
1948 Stad-de Jong , Witziers-Timmer , van der Kade-Koudijs , Blankers-Koen (NED )
1952 Faggs , Jones , Moreau , Hardy (USA )
1956 Strickland de la Hunty , Croker , Mellor , Cuthbert (AUS )
1960 Hudson , Williams , Jones , Rudolph (USA )
1964 Ciepły , Kirszenstein , Górecka , Kłobukowska (POL )
1968 Ferrell , Bailes , Netter , Tyus (USA )
1972 Krause , Mickler , Richter , Rosendahl (FRG )
1976 Göhr , Stecher , Bodendorf , Wöckel (GDR )
1980 Müller , Wöckel , Auerswald , Göhr (GDR )
1984 Brown , Bolden , Cheeseborough , Ashford (USA )
1988 Brown , Echols , Griffith Joyner , Ashford , Young (USA )
1992 Ashford , Jones , Guidry , Torrence , Finn (USA )
1996 Devers , Miller , Gaines , Torrence , Guidry (USA )
2000 Fynes , Sturrup , Davis-Thompson , Ferguson , Lewis (BAH )
2004 Lawrence , Simpson , Bailey , Campbell , McDonald (JAM )
2008 Borlée , Mariën , Ouédraogo , Gevaert (BEL )
2012 Madison , Felix , Knight , Jeter , Tarmoh , Williams (USA )
2016 Bartoletta , Felix , Bowie , Gardner , Akinosun (USA )
2020 Williams , Thompson-Herah , Fraser-Pryce , Jackson , Morrison , Burchell (JAM )
show US National Championship winners in women's 100-meter dash
1923–1979 Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992 The Athletics Congress
1980: Alice Brown
1981–1983: Evelyn Ashford
1984 Merlene Ottey (JAM) * Alice Brown
1985: Merlene Ottey (JAM) * Pam Marshall
1986: Pam Marshall
1987: Diane Williams
1988: Sheila Echols
1989: Dawn Sowell
1990: Michelle Finn
1991: Carlette Guidry
1992OT : Gwen Torrence
1993–present USA Track & Field
1993–1994: Gail Devers
1995–1996OT : Gwen Torrence
1997–1998: Marion Jones
1999: Inger Miller
2000OT : Marion Jones
2001–2002: Chryste Gaines
2003: Torri Edwards
2004OT : LaTasha Colander
2005: Me'Lisa Barber
2006: Lauryn Williams
2007: Torri Edwards
2008OT : Muna Lee
2009: Carmelita Jeter
2010: Allyson Felix
2011–2012OT : Carmelita Jeter
2013: English Gardner
2014: Tianna Bartoletta
2015: Tori Bowie
2016OT : English Gardner
2017: Tori Bowie
2018: Aleia Hobbs
2019: Teahna Daniels
20212020 OT : Javianne Oliver
Notes
OT : 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
2020 OT : The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Distance : The event was over 100 yards until 1927; from 1929 to 1931, 1955, 1957 to 1958, 1961 to 1962, 1965 to 1966, 1969 to 1970 and 1973 to 1974.
show US National Championship winners in women's 200-meter dash
1926–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress
1980: Karen Hawkins
1981: Evelyn Ashford
1982: Merlene Ottey (JAM) * Florence Griffith
1983: Evelyn Ashford
1984 Merlene Ottey (JAM) * (3) Pam Marshall
1985 Merlene Ottey (JAM) * Pam Marshall
1986–1987: Pam Marshall
1988: Gwen Torrence
1989: Dannette Young
1990: Grace Jackson (JAM) * Dannette Young
1991–1992OT : Gwen Torrence
1993–presentUSA Track & Field Notes
OT : 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event.
Distance :The event was over 220 yards until 1932, 1955, 1957-8, 1961-3, 1965-6, 1969-70 and 1973-4
2020 OT : The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
show US National Championship winners in women's shot put
1923-1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980-1992The Athletics Congress 1993-onwardsUSA Track & Field Notes
Since 1992, the championships has incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event.
2020 OT : The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
show US National Championship winners in women's discus throw
1923–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress 1993–presentUSA Track & Field Notes
OT : Since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event.
2020 OT : The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
show 1927–1979Amateur Athletic Union 1980–1992The Athletics Congress
1980–83: Evelyn Ashford
1984–85: Alice Brown
1986: Jeanette Bolden
1987: Anelia Nuneva (BUL)
1988: Evelyn Ashford & Gwen Torrence
1989: Gwen Torrence
1990–92: Michelle Finn
1993–presentUSA Track & Field Notes *Distances have varied as follows: 40 yards (1927–32), 50 meters (1933–54), 50 yards (1956–64), 60 yards (1965–86), 55 meters (1987–90)
show 1936 USA Olympic track and field team
Qualification Men's track and road athletes Men's field athletes Women's track athletes Women's field athletes Non-competing relay pool members
Marty Glickman
Louise Stokes
Sam Stoller
Coaches
Lawson Robertson (men's head coach)
Dean Cromwell (men's assistant coach)
Brutus Hamilton (men's assistant coach)
(men's assistant coach)
Dee Boeckmann (women's coach)
show
1931: Helene Madison
1932: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1933: Helen Jacobs
1934: Virginia Van Wie
1935: Helen Wills
1936: Helen Stephens
1937: Katherine Rawls
1938: Patty Berg
1939: Alice Marble
1940: Alice Marble
1941: Betty Hicks
1942: Gloria Callen
1943: Patty Berg
1944: Ann Curtis
1945: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1946: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1947: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1948: Fanny Blankers-Koen
1949: Marlene Hagge
1950: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1951: Maureen Connolly
1952: Maureen Connolly
1953: Maureen Connolly
1954: Babe Didrikson Zaharias
1955: Patty Berg
1956: Pat McCormick
1957: Althea Gibson
1958: Althea Gibson
1959: Maria Bueno
1960: Wilma Rudolph
1961: Wilma Rudolph
1962: Dawn Fraser
1963: Mickey Wright
1964: Mickey Wright
1965: Kathy Whitworth
1966: Kathy Whitworth
1967: Billie Jean King
1968: Peggy Fleming
1969: Debbie Meyer
1970: Chi Cheng
1971: Evonne Goolagong
1972: Olga Korbut
1973: Billie Jean King
1974: Chris Evert
1975: Chris Evert
1976: Nadia Comăneci
1977: Chris Evert
1978: Nancy Lopez
1979: Tracy Austin
1980: Chris Evert
1981: Tracy Austin
1982: Mary Decker
1983: Martina Navratilova
1984: Mary Lou Retton
1985: Nancy Lopez
1986: Martina Navratilova
1987: Jackie Joyner-Kersee
1988: Florence Griffith Joyner
1989: Steffi Graf
1990: Beth Daniel
1991: Monica Seles
1992: Monica Seles
1993: Sheryl Swoopes
1994: Bonnie Blair
1995: Rebecca Lobo
1996: Amy Van Dyken
1997: Martina Hingis
1998: Pak Se-ri
1999: United States women's national soccer team
2000: Marion Jones
2001: Jennifer Capriati
2002: Serena Williams
2003: Annika Sörenstam
2004: Annika Sörenstam
2005: Annika Sörenstam
2006: Lorena Ochoa
2007: Lorena Ochoa
2008: Candace Parker
2009: Serena Williams
2010: Lindsey Vonn
2011: Abby Wambach
2012: Gabby Douglas
2013: Serena Williams
2014: Mo'ne Davis
2015: Serena Williams
2016: Simone Biles
2017: Katie Ledecky
2018: Serena Williams
2019: Simone Biles
2020: Naomi Osaka
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