Pam Kilborn
Encyclopedia
Pamela Kilborn-Ryan, MBE
(born 12 August 1939) is a former Australia
n athlete who set world records as a hurdler
. She was born in Melbourne
. For three years, she was ranked as the world's top woman hurdler.
Kilborn was also an Olympic class sprinter, Long Jump
er and pentathlete
, and won a total of 17 individual Australian Championships between 1962 and 1972.
during the late 1950s. She competed for the University High School
team, under coach Henri Schubert alongside her good friend Judy Amoore
(later Pollock).
In 1960 she attempted to gain selection for the 1960 Summer Olympics
but could only place third in the Australia
n Championships with only the first two athletes chosen. She was reputedly so ill during these Championships that she had to be assisted on the medal dais.
During 1961 her performances at both hurdles and long jump had improved substantially and she was ranked #4 and #10 in the world, respectively, at the end of the year.
in Perth
, Australia, Kilborn became one of the stars of the Games, upsetting world-record holder Betty Moore
in the 80 m hurdles
race before winning the long jump contest ahead of two countrywomen Helen Frith (silver) and Janet Knee (bronze).
Two years later, at the Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, she won the bronze medal behind Karin Balzer
(gold) and Teresa Ciepły (silver) after having equalled the Olympic record in the semi final.
Soon after the Games, on 5 October 1964, she equalled the World Record for 80 m Hurdles, running 10.5 in Tokyo. On 6 February 1965 in Melbourne
, she bettered her record with a 10.4 time.
At the 1966 Commonwealth Games
in Kingston, Jamaica
she won gold medals in 80 m hurdles and 4x110 yards relay
.
In 1967 she broke Christine Perera's unofficial 100 m hurdles world record of 13.7 seconds and improved it twice up to 13.3 seconds in 1969.
Having been undefeated since the 1964 Olympics, Kilborn was the favourite for the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
. At the Games she was hampered by a shoulder injury and could not overcome her surprising teenage countrywoman Maureen Caird
in the rain-affected final.
In 1970 the international hurdling distance was extended to 100 metres and, competing at the British Commonwealth Games
, she beat Caird to take yet another gold medal. Her three successive golds was the most ever won by any athlete at the Commonwealth Games
. Earlier in the Games she was chosen to carry the Australian standard in the Opening Ceremony; the first time a woman had been awarded this honour.
After a brief retirement, she returned to the track for one last Olympic campaign in 1972. She set a World Record of 12.5 (12.93 automatic timing) shortly before the 1972 Olympics
in Munich
, but could only run fourth in the Olympic final.
Kilborn set multiple Australian records in seven different events during her career: 80 metre hurdles, 100 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles, Long Jump, Pentathlon, 4 x 200 metres relay, and 4 x 220 yards relay.
World Records
Over 80 metres hurdles, Kilborn set two official world records in 1964 and 1965.
In the 100 metres hurdles, she set one official world record at Warsaw
on 28 June 1972.
At 200 m hurdles, Kilborn-Ryan set four official world records between 1969 and 1971, with a best of 25.7.
In team events, she set a world record for 4 x 220 yards relay of 1:35.8 in Brisbane
on 9 November 1969, teaming with Raelene Boyle
, Jenny Lamy
and Marion Hoffman.
Personal Bests
World Rankings - Hurdles and Long Jump
Australian Championships Record - prior to 1963 Championships were held every two years
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 12 August 1939) is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete who set world records as a hurdler
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
. She was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. For three years, she was ranked as the world's top woman hurdler.
Kilborn was also an Olympic class sprinter, Long Jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
er and pentathlete
Heptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
, and won a total of 17 individual Australian Championships between 1962 and 1972.
Early career
Kilborn began competing in athletics in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
during the late 1950s. She competed for the University High School
University High School, Melbourne
The University High School is a public, co-educational high school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.-History:...
team, under coach Henri Schubert alongside her good friend Judy Amoore
Judy Amoore
Judith "Judy" Florence Amoore is a former Australian runner. She was born in Melbourne, Victoria.At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo she won a bronze medal in the first 400 metres race for females, only beaten by countrywoman Betty Cuthbert and Brit Ann Packer...
(later Pollock).
In 1960 she attempted to gain selection for the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
but could only place third in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Championships with only the first two athletes chosen. She was reputedly so ill during these Championships that she had to be assisted on the medal dais.
During 1961 her performances at both hurdles and long jump had improved substantially and she was ranked #4 and #10 in the world, respectively, at the end of the year.
International career
At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia, Kilborn became one of the stars of the Games, upsetting world-record holder Betty Moore
Betty Moore
Betty Moore is an Australian athlete who ran for Great Britain.Moore set hurdles records for New South Wales during the 1950s while completing her MSc in chemistry with Arthur Birch at the University of Sydney...
in the 80 m hurdles
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
race before winning the long jump contest ahead of two countrywomen Helen Frith (silver) and Janet Knee (bronze).
Two years later, at the 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
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, she won the bronze medal behind Karin Balzer
Karin Balzer
Karin Balzer is a former East German hurdler, one of the best in high hurdles event during the 1960s.She was born Karin Richert in Magdeburg, and competed in several track and field events when she was young...
(gold) and Teresa Ciepły (silver) after having equalled the Olympic record in the semi final.
Soon after the Games, on 5 October 1964, she equalled the World Record for 80 m Hurdles, running 10.5 in Tokyo. On 6 February 1965 in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, she bettered her record with a 10.4 time.
At the 1966 Commonwealth Games
1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica from 4 August to 13 August 1966. This was the first time that the Games had been held outside the so-called White Dominions....
in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
she won gold medals in 80 m hurdles and 4x110 yards relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
.
In 1967 she broke Christine Perera's unofficial 100 m hurdles world record of 13.7 seconds and improved it twice up to 13.3 seconds in 1969.
Having been undefeated since the 1964 Olympics, Kilborn was the favourite for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. At the Games she was hampered by a shoulder injury and could not overcome her surprising teenage countrywoman Maureen Caird
Maureen Caird
Maureen Caird is a former Australian track athlete, who specialised in the sprint hurdles. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, she became the youngest-ever individual Olympic athletics champion, at age 17, when she won gold in Mexico City.-Early career:Born in Cumberland, New South Wales, Caird began...
in the rain-affected final.
In 1970 the international hurdling distance was extended to 100 metres and, competing at the British Commonwealth Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
, she beat Caird to take yet another gold medal. Her three successive golds was the most ever won by any athlete at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. Earlier in the Games she was chosen to carry the Australian standard in the Opening Ceremony; the first time a woman had been awarded this honour.
After a brief retirement, she returned to the track for one last Olympic campaign in 1972. She set a World Record of 12.5 (12.93 automatic timing) shortly before the 1972 Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, but could only run fourth in the Olympic final.
Statistics
National RecordsKilborn set multiple Australian records in seven different events during her career: 80 metre hurdles, 100 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles, Long Jump, Pentathlon, 4 x 200 metres relay, and 4 x 220 yards relay.
World Records
Over 80 metres hurdles, Kilborn set two official world records in 1964 and 1965.
In the 100 metres hurdles, she set one official world record at Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on 28 June 1972.
At 200 m hurdles, Kilborn-Ryan set four official world records between 1969 and 1971, with a best of 25.7.
In team events, she set a world record for 4 x 220 yards relay of 1:35.8 in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 9 November 1969, teaming with Raelene Boyle
Raelene Boyle
Raelene Ann Boyle, AM, MBE, , Australian athlete, represented Australia at three Olympic Games as a sprinter, winning three silver medals. In 1998, Boyle was named one of 100 National Living Treasures by the National Trust of Australia.-Early life:Boyle was born on 24 June 1951, the daughter of...
, Jenny Lamy
Jenny Lamy
Jenny Lamy is a former Australian sprinter.Lamy's international debut came at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, where she won a silver medal in the 220 yards race behind countrywoman Dianne Burge and shared in a sprint relay gold medal.Still a junior at the 1968...
and Marion Hoffman.
Personal Bests
| Event | Time | Wind | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.50 | +0.6 | Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... , Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
14 October 1968 |
| 80 m Hurdles | 10.4 | - | Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
6 February 1965 |
| 100 m Hurdles | 12.5 | +0.9 | Warsaw Warsaw Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most... , 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... |
28 June 1972 |
| 200 m Hurdles | 25.7 | - | Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
25 November 1971 |
| Long Jump | 6.24m | - | Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
21 May 1966 |
World Rankings - Hurdles and Long Jump
| Year | Event | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 80 m Hurdles | 4 |
| Long Jump | 10 | |
| 1962 | 80 m Hurdles | 2 |
| Long Jump | 9 | |
| 1963 | 80 m Hurdles | 1 |
| 1964 | 80 m Hurdles | 3 |
| 1965 | 80 m Hurdles | 1 |
| 1966 | 80 m Hurdles | 1 |
| 1967 | 80 m Hurdles | 1 |
| 1968 | 80 m Hurdles | 2 |
| 1969 | 80 m Hurdles | 2 |
| 1970 | 100 m Hurdles | 4 |
| 1972 | 100 m Hurdles | 4 |
Australian Championships Record - prior to 1963 Championships were held every two years
| Year | 100 yds/metres | 80 m Hurdles | 100 m Hurdles | 200 m Hurdles | Long Jump | Pentathlon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | - | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1962 | DNQ | 5 | - | - | 1 | - |
| 1963 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
| 1965 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 | - |
| 1966 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 2 | - |
| 1967 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | - |
| 1970 | 5 | - | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| 1971 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1972 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |