Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918-2004) was a track and field star who set world records and broke down barriers for mothers and wives in sports.
All month, we're talking about Olympians. Tune in to hear incredible stories of women who either were in the Olympics or likely should have been!
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Leading Ladies, Activists, STEMinists, Local Legends, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
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Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! Here’s the deal: Every weekday, we’re highlighting the stories of women you may not know about, but definitely should. We’re talking about women from around the world and throughout history. Each month is themed. This month, we’re talking about olympians, women who either were in the Olympics or likely should have been.
Our woman of the day today was a track and field star who set world records and broke down barriers for mothers and wives in sports. She set a record for the number of gold medals she won at a single Olympics -- and yet, the newspapers were instead preoccupied with her status as a wife and recent mother. Her sports persona became so identified with her personal life that she was given the nickname “The Flying Housewife.” Please welcome Fanny Blankers-Koen.
Fanny was born Francina Elsje Koen April 26, 1918 in a village in the Netherlands. Athleticism was part of her life virtually from birth -- her father had competed in shot put and discus competitions. By the time she was a teen, Fanny was skilled at tennis, ice skating, and fencing. Her athletic prowess was enough that one of her coaches encouraged her to continue training professionally in a dedicated sport -- Fanny settled on track.
At the age of 16, Fanny took first place at a Dutch National Championship. Just a year later, she competed in the high jump and 4 x 100 meter relay at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In 1938, she tied a world record with an eleven-second 100-meter dash.
In 1940, a personal development in Fanny’s life made headlines. The news? She got married. After tying the knot with her husband, who was, coincidentally, also her coach, many outlets declared Fanny’s career was over. They imagined she’d dedicate her time to being a mother and wife.
Many thought Fanny’s last hurrah would be the Helsinki Olympics that year. But due to World War II, the Olympics were cancelled and postponed once again in 1944.
In the meantime, Fanny continued to live her life: she and her husband had two children. Fanny also kept training and competing, setting six new records across four different track events.
In 1948, Fanny qualified for the London Summer Olympics. But her entry into the games was far from celebratory. She received letters and media attention berating her for leaving her children in Amsterdam while she went to the Olympics. Coaches at the games called her too old to compete. She was 30 years old.
Fanny took part in three individual events at the 1948 Games. She won the first, the 100-meter dash, with a comfortable margin. The second, the 80-meter hurdle, was more difficult: she had a slow start and bumped a hurdle early on, but still managed to finish first. It was the individual last event, the 200-meter, that really frightened Fanny. According to some accounts, Fanny was so upset by the pressure put on her to win, and the negative media coverage of her competition, that she burst into tears and nearly missed her last event.
Fanny recovered and ran. And despite muddy, cumbersome track conditions, she went on to win the gold.
Lastly, Fanny took part in the 4 x 100 relay race. When she took the baton, her team was in fourth place. Fanny carried it to first. She finished a tenth of a second ahead of the competing teams.
Fanny’s performance in the 1948 games made her the first Dutch athlete to win an Olympic title in athletics and the first woman to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games. It also won her the nickname of the “Flying Housewife.”
Despite the negative press that hung over her journey to the games, Fanny proved them wrong. And, she later revealed, she’d won all those gold medals while three months pregnant.
Fanny took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, though she didn’t medal. She retired in 1955 after setting yet another record, this time a national title in shot put. By the time she stepped out of the spotlight, Fanny had set world records 16 times across eight different events. She’d won five European titles, and 58 Dutch national championship titles -- all by the age of 37.
In 1999, the International Association of Athletics Federations named Fanny the top female athlete of the 20th century.
Fanny died in 2004.
All May, we’re talking about olympians.
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Talk to you tomorrow!