Shirley Strickland de la Hunty

Shirley Strickland was the daughter of a professional sprinter in Australia, and she obviously inherited his speed. With seven Olympic medals Strickland de la Hunty set a record for women’s track & field, subsequently equaled by Irena Szewińska-Kirszenstein and later bettered by Merlene Ottey. The Australian sprinter-hurdler won three gold medals in the 80 metres hurdles (1952, 1956) and the 4×100 metres relay (1956). She also won one silver and three bronze medals in three Olympic appearances (1948-1956). At the 1950 British Empire Games she won three gold medals (80 metres hurdles, 110-220-110 yards Relay (with Marjorie Jackson and Verna Johnston), and 220-110-220-110 yards Relay (with Marjorie Jackson, Verna Johnston, and the non-Olympian Ann Shanley) and two silvers (100 and 220 yards). During her career she set or equalled five individual world records, four in the hurdles, and one at 100 metres, and she was a member of five Australian relay teams which set or equalled world records. Strickland de la Hunty was a graduate of the University of Western Australia and later became a physics and mathematics teacher, but she also coached track & field. At the 2000 Opening Ceremony in Sydney, she was one of several female Australian Olympians who carried the Olympic Flag.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.3 (1955); 200 – 24.1 (1955); 80H – 10.89 (1956).