Babe Didrikson Zaharias, was born Mildred Ella Didriksen on June 26, 1911, In Port Arthur, Texas. Gifted with superior physicality, she displayed her athletic prowess from a young age, excelling in basketball while attending Beaumont High School. Through her exceptional performance, she led her team to multiple state championships, gaining national attention and earning her a place on the All-American basketball team.
Didrikson’s athletic abilities extended beyond basketball. She competed in track and field events and earned acclaim as an outstanding runner, hurdler, and high jumper, setting several records in these events, including world records in the 80-meter hurdles and the javelin throw.
In 1932, Babe Didrikson competed in the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Despite limited training, owing to a lack of resources, she won two gold medals and one silver medal. She achieved first place in the javelin throw and the 80-meter hurdles, and secured a silver medal in the high jump.
Following her success at the Olympics, Didrikson turned her attention to golf. To that sport, she brought the intensity of focus that had brought her success in her other athletic endeavours, and once admitted that she practiced hitting golf balls until her hands bled. She quickly mastered that sport and became a dominant figure in women’s golf, co-founding the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) in 1946.. Throughout her golfing career, she won a total of 41 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships: the U.S. Women’s Open in 1948, 1950, and 1954.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias’s achievements in sports were groundbreaking, especially in light of the era in which she competed. She challenged gender stereotypes and shattered barriers, proving that women could excel in traditionally male-dominated sports. Her exceptional athleticism, combined with her charismatic personality, made her a beloved and respected figure in the world of sports.
Tragically, Babe Didrikson Zaharias was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1953. Despite undergoing surgery and treatment, the cancer eventually spread, leading to her untimely death on September 27, 1956 at the age of 42.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias was posthumously inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977. Her impact on women’s sports and her groundbreaking contributions will forever be remembered in the annals of sports history.
