Full Name: Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias; known as Babe Didrikson or Mildred
Didrikson
Date of Birth: 26 th June, 1911
Died on: 27 th September, 1956
Country: The United States of America
Sport involved in: Athletics, Golf and Basketball
Achievements made:
• Achievements in the field of athletics are as follows—
• Winner of the 1932 AAU Championships
• Gold medalist in the 80 meter hurdle event in the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games
• Winner of gold medal in the javelin throwing competition at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games
• Winner of silver medal in the high jump event at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics
• World record setter in athletics
• Achievements as a golf player are as follows—
• Champion at the 1946-47 United States Women's Amateur Golf Championships
• Champion at the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championships in 1947
• Winner of the Western open in 1940, 1944, 1945 and 1950
• Champion at the Titleholders Championships in 1947, 1950 and 1952
• Champion at the U.S. Women's Open in 1948, 1950 and 1954
• Winner of 17 straight amateur victories
• Fastest LPGA golfer to ever reach 10 wins in 1950
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf in 1951
• Received Bob Jones Award in 1957
• Inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 1967
• Chosen the “Female Athlete of the Year” for six times by Associated Press
• Voted the “Woman Athlete of the First Half of the 20 th Century”
• Voted “Woman Athlete of the 20 th Century” in 1999 by Associated Press and Sports Illustrated
• Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
Career: Mildred Ella Didrikson Zaharias is considered to be the greatest among the all-rounder sportswomen in history. Didrikson became famous for her achievements in track and field athletics and basketball. In her later life Didrikson became a world famous personality for her excellence in golf. She was also involved with sports like tennis, baseball, softball, diving, bowling and roller skating.
Mildred Didrikson or Babe Didrikson entered the domain of athletics in 1932, when she won the AAU Championships. She was the sole member in her team, Employer's Casualty. Didrikson had competed in eight events, of which, she became the winner in six. In the competition, she made five world records in a single afternoon. Babe appeared at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games . in those days, women participation at the Olympics was restricted to only three events—80 meter hurdle race, high jump and javelin throw. Didrikson won medals in all the three events.
After the Olympics, Babe Didrikson got her interest in golf. She became the greatest woman player in that sport. In 1938, Didrikson participated in the Los Angele Open, a men's PGA tournament. She won the 1946 United States Women's Amateur Golf Championships and the 1947 British Ladies' Amateur Golf Championships. After these wins, Babe turned professional. As a professional, she won the U.S. Women's Open in 1948, 1950, and 1954. Didrikson was the first American female golf celebrity. She became the leading player of 1940s and early 1950s. She was the leading money winner on the LPGA circuit from 1948 to 1951. Didrikson had been champion at 31 LPGA sanctioned tournaments. The legendary sports personality died on 27 th September in 1956 at an age 45.
Performance at the Olympics: Mildred Didrikson participated in the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games . In the Games, Didrikson won gold medals in the 80 meter hurdle race and the javelin throw events. She also became the silver medalist in the high jump event.
