Helen Stephens
Encyclopedia
Helen Herring Stephens was an American
athlete, a double Olympic
champion in 1936.
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 - but also in weight events like the shot put
and discus throw
, and she won national titles in both categories of events.
Aged only 18, Stephens was sent out to the 1936 Summer Olympics
. There, she won the 100 m final, beating reigning champion and reigning world record
holder Stanisława Walasiewicz of Poland
(who an autopsy discovered was not female under then-current Olympic rules). Her time of 11.5 s
was below the world record
, but was not recognised because a strong tailwind was present at the time of the race. Next, Stephens anchored the American 4 x 100 m relay team that won the Olympic title after the leading German
team dropped its baton.
Stephens retired from athletics shortly after the Games and played some professional baseball
and softball
. She attended William Woods University
in Fulton, MO. From 1938 to 1952, she was the owner and manager of her own semi-professional basketball
team.
She died in Saint Louis
at age 75.
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, Mo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete, a double Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion in 1936.
Stephens, nicknamed the 'Fulton Flash' after her birthplace Fulton, Missouri
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
, was a strong athlete in sprint events - she never lost a race in her entire career - but also in weight events like the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
, and she won national titles in both categories of events.
Aged only 18, Stephens was sent out to 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...
. There, she won the 100 m final, beating reigning champion and reigning world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder Stanisława Walasiewicz of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(who an autopsy discovered was not female under then-current Olympic rules). Her time of 11.5 s
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
was below the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
, but was not recognised because a strong tailwind was present at the time of the race. Next, Stephens anchored the American 4 x 100 m relay team that won the Olympic title after the leading German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
team dropped its baton.
Stephens retired from athletics shortly after the Games and played some professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
. She attended William Woods University
William Woods University
William Woods University is a coeducational, independent, private university of 3,800 students, representing most states and approximately 20 foreign countries. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines in both campus and outreach settings. WWU is situated...
in Fulton, MO. From 1938 to 1952, she was the owner and manager of her own semi-professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team.
She died in Saint Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
at age 75.
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, Mo.