High Jump, Women

The silver medalist from 1928, Lien Gisolf of the Netherlands, was back and was the world record holder, having jumped 1.62 (5-3¾) in Amsterdam in June 1932. Also considered were Americans Jean Shiley and Babe Didrikson, who had tied at the US Olympic Trials with 1.60 (5-3). Gisolf cleared 1.58 (5-2¼) but missed at 1.60 (5-3), which was cleared by Shiley, Didrikson, and Canada’s Eva Dawes, deciding the medals. Dawes missed at 1.62 (5-3¾), getting the bronze medal. Shiley and Didrikson both cleared a world record 1.65 (5-5) on one attempt and then missed at 1.67 (5-5¾). A jump-off was ordered at 1.67 and both Americans had successful clearances on their first attempt. But after Didrikson’s jump, the officials convened and ruled that she had jumped head-first, which was then illegal, and was termed diving. This gave the gold medal to Jean Shiley. Didrikson later noted that she had jumped in the same style throughout the competition.