Women's Athletics

The second Women's World Games, effectively the women's world championships, took place in Gothenburg. Nine countries sent representatives to compete in 12 different events. Approximately twenty thousand spectators gathered in the stands of Slottsskogsvallen over the three days.

The best performance came from Great Britain's 4x110 yard relay team, which broke the world record by finishing under 50 seconds, clocking in at 49.8.

Halina Konopacka, a future Olympic discus champion, threw a national record and the second longest throw of all time at 37.71 (123-8). It didn't quite make it as a world record, as Milly Reuter had thrown 38.34 (125-9) a week earlier at the German Championships. Unfortunately, Germany did not participate in the Gothenburg games, so a head-to-head clash between the two formidable athletes didn't materialize.

The mysterious Japanese athlete and her country's sole representative, 19-year-old Kinue Hitomi, leapt to victory in the long jump, setting an official world record of 5.50 (18-½). The talented athlete had already jumped 5.75 (18-10½) in her home country in the spring, but that mark was not officially recognized.

Since the long jump was not yet included in the Amsterdam Olympic Games, Hitomi had to participate in other events, such as the 800, where she casually claimed a silver medal. In Gothenburg, the Japanese athlete showcased her versatility by winning the standing long jump in addition to the regular long jump, placing second in the discus, and third in the 100 yards.

Results

• Medallists (Wikipedia)

Rosa Grosse Clocks 11.0 in 100 Yards – Not Approved

Varsity Stadium, Toronto, ON, Canada, August 14, 1926

Rosa Grosse, who vied for the title of the world's fastest woman in 1926, despite her hearing difficulties, powered to a clear victory in the 100 yards at the Canadian Championships. Her tough competitors and clubmates from the Toronto Ladies Athletic Club, Myrtle Cook and Fanny Rosenfeld (daughter of Russian immigrants), had to watch the 26-year-old Grosse's heels from behind. Grosse's winning time was initially announced as 11.1, although four out of six stopwatches showed 11.0. The time was later corrected. Despite everything, the result was not accepted as a world record.

Grosse's speed was no fluke, as she had already clocked an even 11.0 twice before the championship races. Those times were also not officially recorded as records.

In the 1920s, women's athletics in Canada was concentrated in the Toronto area. Myrtle Cook and Fanny Rosenfeld, both from this region, also formed the core of the Canadian sprint relay quartet that won gold at the Amsterdam Olympics.

Rosa Grosse, a mother of two, retired after the 1926 season. The pioneering woman athlete, who passed away at 93, had a short but significant career, as evidenced by the biography written about her in Canada.

Newspaper Stories

• Montreal Gazette, August 16, 1926

Books

• Queen Of the Cinder Track: The Life and Times of Rosa Margueretta Grosse 

Discus Throwers Dominate All-Time Rankings

Braunschweig, Germeny, August 22, 1926

The standard of women's discus throwing rose significantly in 1926. For example, the world record improved by over seven metres. This surge was due to two factors: Germany was gradually emerging from its international isolation, and the country's overall athletic performance began to improve. Additionally, the rules for women's athletics were standardized, with the discus weight, for instance, being set at one kilogram.

Milly Reuter of Frankfurt am Main broke the world record in the preliminary round with a throw of 38.34 (125-9). The previous record of 34.15 (112-0)  had been held by Halina Konopacka, who would reclaim the record in 1927.

Charlotte Mäder, who also competed in shot put and javelin, secured the silver medal by throwing the discus an impressive 36.20 (118-9), the third longest throw of all time. Ruth Lange took third place with 34.67 (113-9).

Gundel Wittmann of SCC Berlin sprinted to victory in the 100m with a time of 12.5. In the heats, she set a personal best and official world record of 12.3, placing her fifth in the all-time rankings. The 12.5 was recognized as a German record, 12.3 not.

Results

• Medallists (Wikipedia)