Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956) was one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes in American sports history. Excelling in a…

By Staff , in Athletes , at September 27, 2024 Tags: athletes

Find Cheap Textbooks - Save on New & Used Textbooks at AbeBooks.com

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911–1956) was one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes in American sports history. Excelling in a wide range of sports, from track and field to golf and basketball, Didrikson became a symbol of female athleticism and a trailblazer for women in sports. Her incredible achievements and enduring legacy established her as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

Early Life and Background
Birth and Childhood:
Mildred Ella Didrikson was born on June 26, 1911, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Norwegian immigrant parents. She grew up in Beaumont, Texas, in a family that encouraged her to be physically active, though she developed her athletic talents in an era when opportunities for women in sports were limited.
As a child, she was nicknamed “Babe” after Babe Ruth because of her ability to hit home runs in sandlot baseball games with the local boys. Her early athletic ability and competitive spirit were evident from a young age.

Early Athletic Talent:
Babe Didrikson excelled in various sports during her youth, including basketball, swimming, diving, and baseball. However, she initially made her name as a basketball player while working for the Employers’ Casualty Insurance Company in Dallas, which had a women’s basketball team. Playing for the company’s amateur team, she quickly became a standout athlete.

Track and Field Success
Rise in Track and Field:
In the 1932 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Championships, which also served as qualifiers for the Los Angeles Olympics, Didrikson achieved one of her most remarkable feats. Competing in eight events and representing her employer’s team, she won five individual events and placed first in the team standings all by herself.
Her dominant performance earned her a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, where she would compete in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

1932 Olympic Achievements:
At the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, Didrikson competed in three events, as women were limited in the number of events they could participate in. She won two gold medals and one silver:
Gold in the 80-meter hurdles (setting a world record).
Gold in the javelin throw (setting another world record).
Silver in the high jump, after a controversial ruling on her jumping style.
Didrikson’s performance at the Olympics solidified her reputation as one of the world’s greatest female athletes.

Transition to Professional Sports
Basketball and Exhibition:
Following her Olympic success, Didrikson began touring as a professional basketball player, but opportunities for women in professional sports were limited at the time.
She also played in exhibition games for a barnstorming baseball team and pursued swimming, diving, and even billiards, demonstrating her incredible versatility across various sports.

Golfing Career:
Becoming a Golfing Legend:
In the late 1930s, Babe Didrikson shifted her focus to golf, the sport in which she would achieve her most sustained success and lasting legacy.
After only a few years of playing, she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the leading female golfers of her time. In 1940, she won the Texas Women’s Amateur Championship, and she continued to dominate the amateur circuit.

Marriage to George Zaharias:
In 1938, Didrikson married George Zaharias, a professional wrestler, and took his last name, becoming known as Babe Didrikson Zaharias. With George’s support, she focused more on her golf career and gained even greater prominence in the sport.

Turning Professional in Golf:
In 1947, Didrikson Zaharias won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, one of the most prestigious titles in golf. A year later, in 1948, she turned professional and began competing on the newly formed Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour, helping to popularize women’s golf.
Over the course of her career, she won 41 professional golf tournaments, including 10 major championships. Some of her most notable victories include:
The Western Open (multiple wins, considered a major at the time).
The U.S. Women’s Open in 1948, 1950, and 1954.

Fight Against Cancer and Return to Golf:
In 1953, Didrikson Zaharias was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery. Despite her illness, she made an extraordinary comeback in golf, winning the 1954 U.S. Women’s Open by a record margin of 12 strokes.
Her return to competitive golf after battling cancer was seen as a testament to her resilience, determination, and unparalleled athletic ability.

Legacy and Death
Death:
Sadly, Didrikson Zaharias’s battle with cancer continued, and she passed away on September 27, 1956, at the age of 45 in Galveston, Texas. Her early death was a great loss to the sports world, but her achievements and pioneering efforts for women in sports left an indelible legacy.

Legacy and Impact:
Babe Didrikson Zaharias is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes—male or female—in history. She was a trailblazer for women in sports at a time when female athletes faced significant obstacles and limited opportunities.
Her success across multiple sports, including track and field, basketball, and especially golf, paved the way for future generations of female athletes. Didrikson Zaharias was known not only for her extraordinary skill but also for her relentless work ethic, confidence, and competitive spirit.
In recognition of her accomplishments, Didrikson Zaharias was inducted into several halls of fame, including the World Golf Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Posthumous Honors:
In 1999, the Associated Press voted Babe Didrikson Zaharias the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century, reflecting her monumental influence and legacy in sports history.
The Babe Zaharias Foundation was established to support cancer research, and her name is still synonymous with overcoming adversity and excelling in sports traditionally dominated by men.