Javelin Throw, Women

The Germans were the early leaders in this event with Liesel Schumann winning the 1930 FSFI Women’s World Games, and Ellen Braumüller setting three world records from 1930-32. In June 1932, American Nan Gindele broke the world record, throwing 46.745 (153-4) at the Central AAU Championships. But she was not considered the best American, that role falling to Babe Didrikson who had won the AAU title in 1930 and 1932, and also the baseball throw consecutively from 1930-32, with her 1931 winning mark of 296-0 (90.22) still considered the women’s world record in that now rarely contested event. Didrikson was considered the greatest female athlete in the world, and she would dominate the 1932 Olympics athletics, winning two gold and one silver medal. Her first event was the javelin and she came thru to win with her first round throw of 43.68 (143-3¾). Braumüller was a close second with her teammates, Tilly Fleischer winning bronze. Gindele was a non-competitive fifth.