Stella Walsh (1911-1980) was one of the most prominent track and field stars of the 20th century. Despite facing sexism, ageism and anti-semitism, she reigned as the world’s fastest woman.
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Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
Today’s Olympian was one of the most prominent track and field stars of the 20th century. Despite facing sexism, ageism and anti-semitism, she reigned as the world’s fastest woman. Let’s talk the life and legacy of track’s first femme superstar, Stella Walsh.
Stella was born Stanislawa Walasiewiczowna in the rural Polish town of Wierzchownia on April 3rd, 1911. When Stella was 15 months old, the family emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio in search of medical treatment for her. Stella was born intersex. According to her birth certificate and other records, doctors struggled to understand her condition.
Growing up, Stella took an immediate liking to track. Nicknamed the “Polish Flyer,” by the age of 17, she was an international track star. In 1928, Stella won her first heat at the Olympic trials and won her first European championship in the 60, 100, and 200 meter sprints and board jump.
Back in Cleveland, Stella took a job at the New York Central Railroad. While technically hired as a clerk, in actuality, the Railroad company wanted to use Stella’s image to promote their new fast modern trains. Stella took photographs racing the fleet trains, and her image quickly became synonymous with track and incredible speed.
By 1930, Stella was absolutely unstoppable on the track. In January of that year, she set 3 new world records in just one week. In February, she broke records at 45 and 220 yards. In April, she further lowered the world record for 220 yards. And a few months later, she set another world record at 100 and 200 yards, as well as the broad jump.
In September of 1930, at the World Games in Prague, she swept the 60, 100, and 200 meter races. After the games, Stella went to Warsaw where the Polish government implored Stella to stay in the country and compete as a Pole. But Stella declined the offer because she wanted to represent the United States.
In April of 1932, Stella decided to celebrate her 21st birthday by becoming a naturalized citizen. While waiting for her citizenship papers to arrive, her entire department at the New York Central Railroad was cut, leaving her with no income or sponsor. The Cleveland Mayor then offered Stella a position in the recreation department. But the Amateur Athletic Union warned her that accepting a job related to sports would forfeit her amateur status and disqualify her from the Olympics.
On the way to her naturalization hearing, Stella received a telegram offering her a job at the Polish consulate office in New York. This job allowed Stella to compete in track with both an income and sponsor. But she could no longer race for the U.S.
Stella racing for Poland led to public outcry in the states. Following the end of World War I and the Immigration Act of 1924, many in the United States held strong anti-immigrant sentiments. The Amateur Athletic Union threatened to disqualify her from games, and the press called for her to be banned from the sport.
In response, Stella simply said, “I am running for Poland because I am a Pole.” She never mentioned that running for the U.S. had been her first choice.
In the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Stella was at it again, this time under the Polish flag. She won the 100 meter dash, and tied several world records.
Stella’s undefeated record finally came to an end in 1935 when American runner Helen Stephens beat her in a 50 meter race. Helen became the first person to outrun “the fastest woman on the planet” -- and Stella and Helen’s relationship became quite adversarial.
In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Stella and Helen had their final rematch. In Nazi Germany, he blonde haired, blue-eyed Helen was revered by the crowd, while Stella experienced violent anti-semitism and ageism from audiences and press alike. Spectators spat on Stella as she tried to compete. Stella pulled a muscle, and lost to Helen in the 100 meter dash. Stressed and humiliated, Stella decided to retire after the Berlin Olympics.
But retirement didn’t quite stick. Stella came back to racing in 1947. Soon, she was, setting new American records at 50, 60, and 80 meters. And later that year, Stella was finally granted American citizenship.
Stella’s return to the sport was immediately hit with further controversy. In 1948, the Amateur Athletic Union -- the A-A-U -- ruled that Stella was no longer eligible to represent the United States in track because she’d previously competed for Poland. For 8 years, the AAU denied Stella from racing. Until one day, when Stella found a loophole in the International Olympic Committee. Women were allowed to represent a second country if they changed their nationality through marriage.
Stella soon married Harry Olson, a man 12 years her junior. While the marriage itself was a surprise to Stella’s relatives and closest friends, it allowed Stella to once again compete in track under the American flag.
Stella won her final race in 1977, at the age of 66, a 60 meter dash at the World Polish Olympics in Krakow, Poland. Her final race was greatly celebrated, a reminder of all the glory she’d received in the 1930s.
At the end of her running career, Stella moved back to her Polish-American neighborhood in Cleveland to take care of her mother. Stella was still very much immersed in athletic life, often coaching young children
In December 1980, while coming home from a bar, Stella Walsh was murdered during an armed robbery attempt.
Though Stella initially survived the attack, she died on the operating table after being taken to a nearby hospital.
After Stella’s death, an autopsy was performed. On the eve of her funeral, the Cleveland TV station, WKYC, went on air claiming that Stella was actually a man.
Outraged, Stella’s family and the Polish-American community protested the news station and threatened to sue. Anxious to prove its claim, WKYC appealed to the District Court. The coroner was ordered to publicly release Stella’s autopsy report.
In the report, the coroner referred to Stella as “individual,” and her chromosomal report revealed she had a mix of XY and XX chromosomes.
While some tried to create a scandal out of this information, Cleveland’s Polish community remained unwavering in its support. Stella’s friends, family, and fans continued their loving acceptance after her sudden -- and tragic -- passing.
Stella Walsh ultimately set over 20 world records and won 2 Olympic medals. She was the first woman in modern history to become a superstar athlete. And despite all the xenophobia and sexism, nothing could dim Stella’s love of racing.
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