Sports Archives - Page 4 of 21

Lettice Curtis

Pioneering British commercial pilot and aeronautical engineer.

A biracial woman and a bicyclist, Kittie Knox (1874-1900) braved barely-paved Boston streets as well as discrimination by the all-white (and predominantly male) bicycle clubs. As a competitive cyclist, she designed a bicycle-riding outfit for women that included knickerbockers pants.

Helen Johns

Helen Johns won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics at just 17.

Eleanor Prentiss Creesy

With her husband, she sailed around the world. In 1851, they decided to race several other ships sailing from New York to San Francisco aboard the clipper Flying Cloud. They broke the previous record by eleven days.

Annie Londonderry

Annie Londonderry (ca1870-1947) is known mainly for her well publicized bicycle trip in 1894-95, purportedly around the world.

Senda Berenson

Considered the mother of women’s basketball, Senda Berenson adapted the rules for women and in 1984, posthumously, became the first woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Margaret Curtis

National golf champion who, with her sister, opened the East Boston Dispensary, and co-founded the Curtis Cup, the best known team trophy for amateur women golfers.

Harriot Curtis

National golf champion and skiier who, with her sister, opened the East Boston Dispensary, became a dean at Hampton Institute in Virginia and co-founded the Curtis Cup, the best known team trophy for amateur women golfers.

Rose Pitonof

At 15, she won the Boston Light Swim, setting a new record. The seven men she was competing with all dropped out before the finish line. She later appeared in a vaudeville act during which she gave swimming and diving lessons in a portable tank.

Helene Madison

Between 1930 and 1932, Seattle swimmer Helene Madison owned 23 world records for swimming and won every freestyle event at the U.S. Women’s Nationals three years in a row. Madison won three consecutive gold medals in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.