Fanny Blankers-Koen

Francina Elsje Koen was born in Lage Vuursche, Baarn, Netherlands. Exhibiting exceptional natural athletic talent in swimming and tennis, she dedicated herself to track and field under coach Jan Blankers (a 1928 Olympic triple jumper whom she later married). At age eighteen, she competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, finishing fifth in the high jump.

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II, international competition ceased, but Blankers-Koen continued training secretly, setting six world records while raising her son Jan. When the 1948 London Olympics approached, critics ridiculed her decision to compete, with British newspapers arguing that a 30-year-old mother of two children should stay home to do the laundry and mind her household.

Blankers-Koen silenced all detractors in thunderous fashion at Wembley Stadium. Over eight days of competition, she won gold medals in the 100 meters, 80m hurdles, 200 meters (winning by a record 0.7 seconds in pouring rain), and anchored the Dutch 4x100m relay to victory from fourth place. Rules at the time restricted female athletes to three individual events; had she been permitted, she likely would have won the high jump and long jump, where she held the world records. Returning to Amsterdam, she was paraded in a horse-drawn carriage before 200,000 cheering citizens.