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Back to Athlete Bios
Athlete Bio

Helen Stephens

Basic Information

Status: Hall of Fame Gender: Female Date of Birth: 2/3/1918

Athletics Information

Event: Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field Agent: N/A

Residences

Hometown: Fulton, MO High School: Fulton High School College: William Woods University

A multi-talented athlete, Helen Stephens was an Olympic sprint champion who also competed very successfully in the weight events, a unique combination even by today's standards. While a student at Woods College in Missouri, Stephens became famous overnight when she beat reigning Olympic champion Stella Walsh in the 1935 national championships. The following year, she defended her national 100m title and also won the shot and discus championships at the same meet. At the Berlin Olympics, she was one of the top women competitors, winning gold medals in the 100 and 4x100m relay and displaying her versatility by placing ninth in the discus. In all, she won a dozen National AAU titles, seven of them indoors. Never defeated in the sprints, she later played semi-professional basketball, worked in the U.S. civil service and competed in Masters events in the early 1980s.

Records Held

World Record: 50 m - 6.40 (February 12, 1936 - )

Championships

1936 Olympics: Discus Throw (9th)
1936 Olympics: 100 m (1st)
1936 Olympics: 400 m relay (1st)
1935 AAU: 100 m (1st)
1936 AAU: Shot Put (1st)
1936 AAU: Discus Throw (1st)
1936 AAU: 100 m (1st)

Occupations

U.S. Civil Service

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