Fanny Blankers-Koen

Fanny blanker - Koen (1988 )

Fanny blanker - Koen ( born Francina Elsje Koen; born April 26, 1918 in Baarn, † 25 January, 2004 Hoofddorp ) was a Dutch athlete, the 1948 Four gold medals won in the sprint and hurdles at the Olympic Games. This makes it by the number of gold medals one of the six most successful track and field athletes of all time (as of 2012).

Career

Fanny Koen began at the age of 16 years with the Athletics. Your coach Jan blanker, a former triple jumper, recognized her versatile talent. At age 18, she took part in Berlin at the 1936 Summer Olympics. There she finished fifth in the high jump competition. With the Dutch 4 x 100 - meter relay, she was also fifth. At the European Championships in 1938 it was over 100 meters and 200 meters respectively third parties. In 1943, she turned in the high jump with 1.71 meters and the long jump with 6.25 m each set a new world record. However, their most successful period began only after the Second World War. At the European Championships in 1946, she won two gold medals over 80 meter hurdles and the 4 x 100 - meter relay.

The highlight of her career was the Olympic Summer Games 1948 in London, where she became the superstar of the event. She won four gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 80 meters hurdles and the 4 x 100 - meter relay. This is all the more remarkable, as the mother of two children trained at that time only four hours per week. On further launches in the long jump and high jump she had as the reigning world record holder in both disciplines do without because the rules this is not allowed. Then you got the nickname " The Flying Housewife " and " The Flying Dutchmam ". Blanker - Koen was awarded the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Associated Press for her performance. To date, it is thus one of the few athletes who have received this award and were not U.S. citizens or are.

Almost as successful as it was in 1948 at the European Championships in 1950 with victories in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 80 meters hurdles and a silver medal in the relay.

Fanny blanker - Koen had a competition weight of 63 kg at a height of 1.75 m. She is considered one of the most successful track and field athletes of all time. During her active years she presented 21 world records in six different disciplines. Since 1981, also named after her international FBK Games in Hengelo be aligned in Fanny blanker - Koen Stadium. 1999 started off with the International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF) blanker - Koen for track and field athlete of the century.

Fanny blanker - Koen was suffering from senile dementia and spent her final years in a nursing home in Hoofddorp, where she died on 25 January 2004 at the age of 85 years.

In 2012 she was inducted into the IAAF Hall of Fame.