Ownby Stadium, Dallas, TX | July 4, 1930
The future medal magnets of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Stanisława Walasiewicz—perhaps better known as Stella Walsh—and Mildred “Babe” Didrikson, dazzled at the U.S. National Championships in Dallas. Walsh, who had been attending business college in America, swept the 100 yards, 200 metres, and the long jump. Didrikson, meanwhile, dominated the javelin and the baseball throw, an event that remained part of the official program until 1957. The top prize thrust into Walsh’s hands after the 100-yard dash was particularly significant, as she toppled the Amsterdam Olympic champion, Betty Robinson.
Having just turned 19, Didrikson’s winning javelin heave of 40.68 (133-5) placed her third in the world rankings, trailing only the German duo who had secured a one-two finish at the Women’s World Games. In the long jump, however, Babe was forced to bow to Walsh, who had launched herself to a winning mark of 5.73 (18-9½).
Polish-born Stella Walsh would later fall victim to a deadly robbery in 1980. An autopsy subsequently revealed that she was intersex.