Hélène de Pourtalès facts for kids
Pourtales c. 1900
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| Birth name | Helen Barbey | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Swiss | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | April 28, 1868 New York City, US |
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| Died | November 2, 1945 (aged 77) Geneva, Switzerland |
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| Club | Union des Yachtsmen | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Hélène de Pourtalès was an amazing sailor. She was born Helen Barbey in America. Later, she became a Swiss citizen. She made history at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. Hélène was the first woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal. She was also the first woman to represent Switzerland at the Olympics.
Early Life and Family Background
Helen Barbey was born on April 28, 1868. Her birthplace was New York City in the United States. Her parents were Henry Isaac Barbey and Mary Barbey. Her mother's family, the Lorillards, were well-known.
Helen grew up in New York City. Her family lived on West 38th Street. Her father was a financier, which means he managed money. He also helped run a railway company. Helen came from a family with many interesting relatives.
Sailing Career and Olympic Glory
Hélène de Pourtalès was a key member of the Swiss sailing team. She sailed on a boat named Lérina. At the 1900 Summer Olympics, her team won big. They earned a gold medal in the first 1–2 ton class race. They also won a silver medal in the second 1–2 ton class race.
Hélène also took part in the open class race. However, her team did not finish that one. Her husband, Hermann de Pourtalès, was the helmsman. This means he steered the boat. His nephew, Bernard, was also part of the crew.
The 1900 Olympics were special for women. It was the first time women were allowed to compete. Hélène became famous for her gold medal win. She was the first woman to achieve this. She won her gold medal two months before Charlotte Cooper, another female Olympic pioneer.
Personal Life and Later Years
On April 25, 1891, Helen Barbey married Hermann Alexander, Count von Pourtalès. Hermann was a captain in the military. He had been married before.
When Hélène married Hermann, she became a stepmother. She had two stepsons from Hermann's first marriage. One was Count Guy de Pourtalès, who became a writer. The other was Count Raimond Pourtalès. Raimond worked at the German embassy.
Raimond married Countess Luise Alexandra von Bernstorff. Her father was the German Ambassador to the United States. Their wedding was a big event. Even the U.S. President, William Howard Taft, attended.
Hélène de Pourtalès passed away on November 2, 1945. She died in Geneva, Switzerland.
