Kathleen Russell

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameKathleen May•Russell (-Williams)
Used nameKathleen•Russell
Born31 August 1927
Died27 August 1969 in Kingston, Kingston (JAM)
NOC Jamaica

Biography

Kathleen Russell was a sprinter / long jumper who competed at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. She was the first Jamaican female to compete at the Olympic Games. Russell won six medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1946, 1950, and 1954, winning gold in the 1950 4x100 relay and the 1954 high jump. She added silvers in the 80 metre hurdles and 4x100 in 1954, and won bronze in the 1946 and 1950 80 metre hurdles.

Russell graduated from Philander Smith College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she studied home economics. She later became a dietician and worked at University Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. She was killed when her car was hit by a bus that had been stolen by its driver.

Personal Bests: 100 – unknown; 200 – unknown; LJ – 6.02 (1952).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics JAM Kathleen Russell
100 metres, Women (Olympic) 6 h2 r2/3
200 metres, Women (Olympic) 3 h5 r1/3
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Jamaica DNS
Long Jump, Women (Olympic) 6
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics JAM Kathleen Russell
High Jump, Women (Olympic) DNS
Long Jump, Women (Olympic) 31 r1/2

Special Notes