Betty Robinson facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids Personal information |
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| Born | August 23, 1911 Riverdale, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died | May 18, 1999 (aged 87) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 5+1/2 in | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 126 lb | ||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprint | ||||||||||||||||
| Club | ICCW, Chicago | ||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 60 m – 5.8 (1929) 100 m – 12.0 (1928) 200 m – 25.5 (1931) |
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Medal record
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Elizabeth "Betty" R. Schwartz (born Robinson; August 23, 1911 – May 18, 1999) was an amazing American athlete. She made history by winning the first-ever Olympic 100-meter race for women. Her journey from a young student to an Olympic champion is truly inspiring.
Contents
Who Was Betty Robinson?
Early Life and First Race
Betty Robinson was born in Riverdale, Illinois. She was a student at Thornton Township High School. Even at a young age, she showed great talent in running.
Betty ran her first official race on March 30, 1928. She was only 16 years old. It was an indoor race, and she finished second. In her very next race, outdoors, she ran the 100 meters. She even equaled the world record for that distance!
Making History at the 1928 Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics were held in Amsterdam. This was only Betty's third 100-meter competition. She reached the final and won the gold medal! She also equaled the world record again.
This was a huge moment because it was the first time women's athletics was part of the Olympics. Betty became the very first Olympic champion in the women's 100-meter event. She also won a silver medal with the American 4×100 meters relay team.
A Difficult Challenge
The Plane Crash
In 1931, Betty faced a terrible accident. She was in a plane crash and was very badly hurt. When rescuers found her, they thought she might not survive.
Betty was taken to a hospital. Doctors found she had many serious injuries. It took her six months to get out of a wheelchair. It was two years before she could walk normally again. Because of her injuries, she missed the 1932 Summer Olympics in her home country.
An Amazing Comeback
The 1936 Berlin Olympics
Even after her severe injuries, Betty did not give up. She could not kneel for a normal 100-meter start anymore. But she was still a strong runner.
She joined the US team for the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The US team was behind the German team, who were favorites to win. But then, the German team dropped their baton!
Betty took the lead and passed the baton to her teammate, Helen Stephens. This incredible moment led to her second Olympic gold medal! It was an amazing comeback story.
Life After the Olympics
After the Berlin Olympics, Betty retired from competitive running. However, she stayed involved in athletics. She became an official for sports events. Betty Robinson passed away in 1999 at the age of 87.
See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Robinson para niños
