Jeanne Ashworth facts for kids
Ashworth at the Müggelturm, 1964
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| Full name | Jeanne Chesley Ashworth | |||||||||||||
| Born | July 1, 1938 Burlington, Vermont, U.S. |
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| Died | October 4, 2018 (aged 80) Wilmington, New York, U.S. |
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Medal record
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Jeanne Chesley Ashworth (born July 1, 1938 – died October 4, 2018) was a talented American speed skater. She made history by competing in the very first Olympic speed skating event for women. Jeanne won a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. She was a top athlete in the late 1950s and 1960s, winning 11 national championships.
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Early Life and Olympic Journey
Jeanne Ashworth was born in Burlington, Vermont. She lived near Lake Placid, New York, which is a famous place for winter sports. Her family owned a fun toy and candy company, which she helped to run.
Jeanne competed in three Olympic Winter Games. She was part of the US team in the 1960 Winter Olympics, 1964 Winter Olympics, and 1968 Winter Olympics.
Making History at the 1960 Olympics
At the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, Jeanne Ashworth made history. She was one of the first women ever to compete in Olympic speed skating. This was a brand new event for women at the Games.
Jeanne showed great skill and speed. She won the bronze medal in the 500-meter speed skating race. She finished just behind skaters from Germany and Russia. This was a huge achievement for her and for women's speed skating.
National Champion
Beyond the Olympics, Jeanne Ashworth was a dominant force in American speed skating. During the peak of her career in the late 1950s and 1960s, she won an amazing 11 national championships. This shows how consistently good she was on the ice.
Later Life
Jeanne Ashworth passed away on October 4, 2018, in Wilmington, New York. She left behind a legacy as a pioneering speed skater and an Olympic medalist.
