Babe Didrikson—Trailblazing Athlete

Hello, young sports aficionados and champions in the making! Today, we dive into the extraordinary life of one of history’s most remarkable athletes, Babe Didrikson. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

She shattered barriers, defied expectations, and left an indelible mark on the world of sports. Babe Didrikson was a trailblazer who shattered boundaries and redefined what it means to be a champion. Her legacy is one of undeniable talent, grit, determination, and resilience. So, lace up your sneakers, grab your sports gear, and join us as we delve into the life and accomplishments of this extraordinary athlete. Get ready to be inspired by the indomitable spirit of Babe Didrikson, a true icon in the world of sports!

Babe Didrikson was an American athlete who excelled in multiple sports, especially golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. She was born on June 26, 1911, in Port Arthur, Texas, to Norwegian immigrants. She changed her surname from Didriksen to Didrikson. Although she claimed to have been born in 1914, various sources indicate the correct year was 1911. From a young age, her goal was to be “the greatest athlete ever to live.” A standout baseball player, she claimed that, as a teenager, she acquired the nickname “Babe” in reference to the famed Yankees baseball player Babe Ruth.

She later dropped out of high school to pursue a career in sports. From 1930 through 1932, she was a member of the women’s All-America basketball team. During the same period, she also won eight events and tied in a ninth in national championship competition in track and field. In the 1932 Women’s Amateur Athletic Association (AAU), competing as a team by herself, Babe won six individual events and the team title, outscoring the 20-women runner-up team from the Illinois Athletic Club 30 points to 22. She became known for her competitiveness and brash confidence.

She also competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she won two gold medals and one silver medal. She won the gold medals in the 80-metre hurdles and the javelin throw, but was deprived of a third gold medal in the high jump because she had used the unorthodox Western roll to achieve the highest jump. So, she was awarded the silver medal instead. Her Olympic success brought her national attention, not all of which was complimentary. At the time, women were not encouraged to compete in sports, and Babe faced much sexism and claims that she might actually be a man. One sportswriter at that time noted, “It would be much better if she and her ilk stayed at home, got themselves prettied up and waited for the phone to ring.” Such comments failed to deter her, as she also excelled in softball, swimming, figure skating, billiards, and even football.

Babe began playing golf casually in 1932, but from 1934, she played that game exclusively. In 1938, she also became the first woman to compete in a men’s golf event, though she did not make the cut. Also in 1938, she married George Zaharias, a professional wrestler.

Restored to amateur status after some years as a professional, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament in 1946. The next year she won 17 straight golf championships, including the British Ladies Amateur, of which she was the first American holder. She subsequently became a professional again. She turned to professional golf in 1947 and in 1948 she won the U.S. Women’s Open, a feat she repeated two years later. She went on to become one of the greatest female golfers of all time. She won 10 LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) major championships and 41 LPGA Tour events.

In 1950 she helped found the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and she became the LPGA’s star competitor. She not only attracted interest in the women’s game, but also revolutionized the sport with her powerful drives. Diagnosed with colon cancer, she underwent surgery in 1953. The following year, in one of sport’s greatest comebacks, she captured her third U.S. Open. Although she wore a colostomy bag, Babe dominated the event, winning by 12 strokes. She won four other tournaments in 1954, and the following year she claimed two more victories, which were the last of her career.

Her autobiography, This Life I’ve Led, appeared in 1955. She died on September 27, 1956, in Galveston, Texas, from colon cancer. In 2021, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

AIME