Jean Shiley
Encyclopedia
Jean Shiley Newhouse (November 20, 1911 – March 11, 1998) was a former American
high jump
er. She was born Jean Shiley in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, and later moved to Havertown
, a Philadelphia
suburb, where she joined the team at Haverford High School.
Shiley tied with Babe Didrikson in the trials for the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
. In the games, both cleared 5 foot and failed at 5 in 6 in (1.68 m). In the jump-off, they tied again at a world record height of 5 foot; however, Shiley was awarded the gold medal, as Didrikson had used the Western Roll
technique which was deemed "diving".
Didrikson was also given a share in the world record and this, though equalled a few times, stood until 1939. Shiley was ruled ineligible for the 1936 Games as she had worked as a swimming instructor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high jump
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....
er. She was born Jean Shiley in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, and later moved to Havertown
Havertown, Pennsylvania
Havertown is a residential suburban unincorporated community in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 9 miles west of the center of Philadelphia. Havertown's ZIP Code is 19083. Havertown is notable for being the birthplace of Swell Bubble Gum, which closed...
, a Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
suburb, where she joined the team at Haverford High School.
Shiley tied with Babe Didrikson in the trials for the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. In the games, both cleared 5 foot and failed at 5 in 6 in (1.68 m). In the jump-off, they tied again at a world record height of 5 foot; however, Shiley was awarded the gold medal, as Didrikson had used the Western Roll
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....
technique which was deemed "diving".
Didrikson was also given a share in the world record and this, though equalled a few times, stood until 1939. Shiley was ruled ineligible for the 1936 Games as she had worked as a swimming instructor.