Fanny Blankers-Koen shattered myths at 1948 Olympics
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen, right, of Holland crosses the finish line in 11.9 seconds to win the Women's 100-meter Dash Final in the Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium, Eng. Britain's D. G. Manley (691) is second, Australia's S. B. Strickland (668) third Canada's V. Myers , hidden by camera finishes fourth while teammate Pat Jones (679) finished fifth, and Jamaica's E. Thompson (702) finished sixth. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen, right, of Holland crosses the finish line in 11.9 seconds to win the Women's 100-meter Dash Final in the Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium, Eng. Britain's D. G. Manley (691) is second, Australia's S. B. Strickland (668) third Canada's V. Myers , hidden by camera finishes fourth while teammate Pat Jones (679) finished fifth, and Jamaica's E. Thompson (702) finished sixth. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

Jul. 31, 2020 03:01 AM EDT
FILE - In this Aug. 4, 1948, file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland,, leaps the last hurdle in the women's Olympic Games 80-metres hurdles Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 1948, file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland,, leaps the last hurdle in the women's Olympic Games 80-metres hurdles Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo/File)

Jul. 30, 2020 11:04 AM EDT
FILE - In this Aug. 4, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland, second left, stands on the podium after she had receives the gold medal for the women's 80-metres Olympic Games Hurdles, at Wembley Stadium, , from J. Sigrid Edstroem, Swedish President of the International Olympic Committee, standing right. Britain's Maureen Gardner, left, came second and Australia' s Shirley Strickland, second right, came third. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland, second left, stands on the podium after she had receives the gold medal for the women's 80-metres Olympic Games Hurdles, at Wembley Stadium, , from J. Sigrid Edstroem, Swedish President of the International Olympic Committee, standing right. Britain's Maureen Gardner, left, came second and Australia' s Shirley Strickland, second right, came third. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

Jul. 31, 2020 03:01 AM EDT
FILE - In this July 31, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland, foreground, wins heat one of the women's 100-metres Olympic Games competition, at Wembley Stadium, London. Viola Myers from Canada, left, and B.L. McKinnon of Australia attempt to catch the leader. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this July 31, 1948 file photo, Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland, foreground, wins heat one of the women's 100-metres Olympic Games competition, at Wembley Stadium, London. Viola Myers from Canada, left, and B.L. McKinnon of Australia attempt to catch the leader. Women were limited in what they could do at the 1948 London Olympics so it was ironic that the biggest personality was a mother of two. Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, the oldest woman among the track and field entries and considered past her prime. But she won the 100 and 200 meters, the 80-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. She remains the only female track and field athlete to win four gold medals at a single Olympics. (AP Photo, File)

Jul. 31, 2020 03:01 AM EDT