Lillian Chalmers

Biographical information

RolesNon-starter
SexFemale
Full nameLillian Florence Elizabeth (-Leonard)•Chalmers
Used nameLillian•Chalmers
Born3 December 1911 in Portsmouth, England (GBR)
Died24 February 1990 in Hillingdon, England (GBR)
AffiliationsPortsmouth Atalanta AC, Portsmouth (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Lillian Chalmers was entered in the 4x100 relay for Great Britain at the 1936 Berlin Olympics but did not start. She had a long career in athletics, lasting from 1932-51. In 1934 Chalmers won a bronze medal in the 100 yards at the British Empire Games. She was a three-time champion at the Women’s AAA Championships, winning the 200 metres in 1937 and 1939 and the 400 metres in 1939. Chalmers was sixth in the 200 at the 1938 European Championships. She also raced the famous 1939 ISTAF Meeting at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, only a few weeks before World War II started. At the time she worked as a machinist in a cardboard box factory. She was the youngest of five children, the eldest of which had died during the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I.

Chalmers had lived in the Rudmore district of Portsmouth before World War II, but later moved to live near London Heathrow airport. Around 1961, Chalmers underwent gender reassignment and became a man, going by the name Leonard Chalmers. He died from the effects of a stroke in early 1990 at the age of 78.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics GBR Lillian Chalmers
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Great Britain DNS

Special Notes

Errata

Date of birth is uncertain. Commonwealth Games data also has a DOB of 5 December 1911, but multiple sources confirm the DOB listed above.