Alice Arden (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Alice Jean Arden-Hodge is an American athlete who competed in the women's high jump
event at the Olympic games in Berlin in 1936. Raised in Long Island
, New York, Arden won ten athletic letters during her high school career across several different sports. The only woman from New York City selected for the 1936 Summer Olympics
women's team, Arden placed ninth in the high jump event and never competed in the sport again. Soon after, she married basketball player Russell Hodge and together they had three children, among whom was Russ Hodge
, a decathlete at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo. As of 2008, Arden and Hodge's participation make them the only mother-son Olympians in American history.
, New York. Her father, Ray Arden, was an inventor who held over 400 patents. During her athletic career at Baldwin High School in New York, she won ten athletic letters in basketball, field hockey
and athletics, and broke Babe Didriksen's high jump record. Arden had made what would become the best jump of her career in 1935, when she achieved a distance of 1.613 m.
, behind only Annette Rogers
. She was selected to participate at the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin, the only female team member from New York City to participate in those games. Although $700 were raised for her trip, she was forced to return $200 due to Amateur Athletic Union
regulations. She placed an equal ninth in the women's high jump event, with a height of 1.50 m., although this would have been eighth had it been discovered earlier that Dora Ratjen
was actually a male. During the games, she forged strong friendships with many athletes and became lifelong friends with the head of the Turkish
delegation
. The Olympic Games, however, was her final competition.
to Roscoe, New York
that same year. There, the Hodges operated a dairy farm and, later, furniture and gravel stores. Arden had a total of three children.
The younger Hodge competed in the decathlon
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo, where he placed ninth. On his mother's 52nd birthday, he set a world record in a decathlon event in Los Angeles. Arden's husband died in 2001. In August 2003, both Arden and her son were honoured with the Sullivan County
Historical Society "History Maker" award. They are the only mother-son Olympians in the history of the United States. At the age of 90, she was still active in swimming.
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
event at the Olympic games in Berlin in 1936. Raised in Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York, Arden won ten athletic letters during her high school career across several different sports. The only woman from New York City selected for the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
women's team, Arden placed ninth in the high jump event and never competed in the sport again. Soon after, she married basketball player Russell Hodge and together they had three children, among whom was Russ Hodge
Russ Hodge
Russell Arden Hodge is an American track and field athlete, world record holder in decathlon from 1966, Olympic competitor from 1964, and silver medalist from the Pan American Games .-Track and field career:...
, a decathlete at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo. As of 2008, Arden and Hodge's participation make them the only mother-son Olympians in American history.
Early life
Arden was born on July 23, 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York. Her father, Ray Arden, was an inventor who held over 400 patents. During her athletic career at Baldwin High School in New York, she won ten athletic letters in basketball, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and athletics, and broke Babe Didriksen's high jump record. Arden had made what would become the best jump of her career in 1935, when she achieved a distance of 1.613 m.
Olympic career
She finished second in the Olympic trials in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, behind only Annette Rogers
Annette Rogers
Annette Rogers Kelly was an American sprinter who competed mainly in the 100 metres.She was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts and graduated from the Northwestern University....
. She was selected to participate at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin, the only female team member from New York City to participate in those games. Although $700 were raised for her trip, she was forced to return $200 due to Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
regulations. She placed an equal ninth in the women's high jump event, with a height of 1.50 m., although this would have been eighth had it been discovered earlier that Dora Ratjen
Dora Ratjen
Heinrich Ratjen was a German athlete who competed for Germany in the women's high jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin, finishing fourth, but was later discovered to be male...
was actually a male. During the games, she forged strong friendships with many athletes and became lifelong friends with the head of the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
delegation
Turkey at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Turkey competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. 48 competitors, 46 men and 2 women, took part in 26 events in 7 sports.-Medalists:-Fencing:Seven fencers, five men and two women, represented Turkey in 1936.Men's sabre* Enver Balkan...
. The Olympic Games, however, was her final competition.
Later life
Inspired by the associations that she made at the Olympic Games, Arden became involved in numerous Olympic committees, working towards increased female participation in the events. She played basketball for the Long Island Ducklings, where she met Russel "Rusty" Hodge, a semi-professional player. Hodge, a center for the Liberty Emeralds, and Arden, also a center, were married in 1937. They had a son, Russ Hodge, in 1939 and moved from Monticello, New YorkMonticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
to Roscoe, New York
Roscoe, New York
Roscoe is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 597 at the 2000 census.Roscoe is in the southwest part of the Town of Rockland, adjacent to New York State Route 17....
that same year. There, the Hodges operated a dairy farm and, later, furniture and gravel stores. Arden had a total of three children.
The younger Hodge competed in the decathlon
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics
At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the athletics competition included 36 events, 24 for men and 12 for women. The women's 400 metres and women's pentathlon events were newly introduced at these Games. There were a total number of 1016 participating athletes from 82 countries.-Men's...
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo, where he placed ninth. On his mother's 52nd birthday, he set a world record in a decathlon event in Los Angeles. Arden's husband died in 2001. In August 2003, both Arden and her son were honoured with the Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
Historical Society "History Maker" award. They are the only mother-son Olympians in the history of the United States. At the age of 90, she was still active in swimming.