Shirley Strickland de la Hunty was the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic titles in track and field events.
The daughter of a professional sprinter, Strickland made her debut representing Australia in the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where she won a silver medal in the 400-meter relay and a bronze in the 100- and 80-meter hurdles. She won the 80-meter hurdles at Helsinki in 1952 before taking time off to have a baby. Four years later, she returned to defend her title at the 1956 Melbourne Games.
Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates described Strickland as “one of our greatest-ever Olympians.” Renowned for her will and determination to succeed, she won seven Olympic medals: three gold, one silver and three bronze.
Off the track, Strickland worked as an assistant manager with the Australian Olympic Team, and lectured on physics, calculus and environmental science at the university level. She was also active in various environmental campaigns, including the preservation of the Swan River.
Strickland was made a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1957 and became an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2001. She was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame in 2000 and carried the Olympic torch in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Games. On the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Games in 2002, she received the Olympic Order.
Strickland died on Feb. 17. Cause of death was not released. She was 78.
February 18, 2004 by
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty
Categories: Sports
i am doing a project on shirley and before that i didnt realise how importent she really was but now i do.
I give all of her friends and family my deepest sympathy towards her death.
To Shirley Strickland family and friends,
i give my deepest sympathy and my love for you all.
i never knew what her untill our grils olny P.E had to do a school project on a female athlete and i choose her i was so like you know exsiadied to do her after i read some stuff in a book then i couldnt help it so i went on the net and look up “Shirley Strickland”.
i got very upset that when i read that she had died that i was crying so i thank god that someone made me look inside a book.
by the way that was my first book i ever read.
with all my deepest sorro and with all my love in my heart im that she has gone.
love chrissy