Olympic champion. Born in Poland, she emigrated to the United States with her family when she was three months old. Her parents, Julian and Veronika Walasiewicz, settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where her father was employed as a steel mill worker.
Stella began running track at Cleveland's South High School. In 1927, she qualified for a place on the United States Olympic team but could not compete because she was not yet a US citizen. (She naturalized at age 21.) 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she represented Poland, winning a gold medal in the 100 m dash and tying the world record of 11.9 seconds. She was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit for her achievements and was voted the most popular person in Polish sports three years in a row. In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, she attempted to defend her 100 m dash title but won the silver medal instead by just 0.02 seconds. Her opponent in this race, US athlete Helen Stephens, was accused by a Polish newspaper reporter of being male and was forced to submit to a genital inspection, which confirmed that she was female. (This was before steroids were widely used for advantage in athletics.) Stella won her last U.S. title in 1951 at the age of 40.
After retiring as an athlete, Stella remained active with a number of organizations supporting the Polish diaspora in sports. In 1954, she appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's radio quiz and interview show "You Bet Your Life." She married aviation draftsman Harry Olson in 1965, but they divorced shortly after.
Stella was murdered during a robbery in the parking lot of a Cleveland discount store buying ribbons for a welcoming ceremony for visiting Polish basketball players. It was discovered after her death that she was an intersex woman.
In 1974, Stella Walsh was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.
Stella began running track at Cleveland's South High School. In 1927, she qualified for a place on the United States Olympic team but could not compete because she was not yet a US citizen. (She naturalized at age 21.) 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she represented Poland, winning a gold medal in the 100 m dash and tying the world record of 11.9 seconds. She was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit for her achievements and was voted the most popular person in Polish sports three years in a row. In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, she attempted to defend her 100 m dash title but won the silver medal instead by just 0.02 seconds. Her opponent in this race, US athlete Helen Stephens, was accused by a Polish newspaper reporter of being male and was forced to submit to a genital inspection, which confirmed that she was female. (This was before steroids were widely used for advantage in athletics.) Stella won her last U.S. title in 1951 at the age of 40.
After retiring as an athlete, Stella remained active with a number of organizations supporting the Polish diaspora in sports. In 1954, she appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's radio quiz and interview show "You Bet Your Life." She married aviation draftsman Harry Olson in 1965, but they divorced shortly after.
Stella was murdered during a robbery in the parking lot of a Cleveland discount store buying ribbons for a welcoming ceremony for visiting Polish basketball players. It was discovered after her death that she was an intersex woman.
In 1974, Stella Walsh was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.
Olympic champion. Born in Poland, she emigrated to the United States with her family when she was three months old. Her parents, Julian and Veronika Walasiewicz, settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where her father was employed as a steel mill worker.
Stella began running track at Cleveland's South High School. In 1927, she qualified for a place on the United States Olympic team but could not compete because she was not yet a US citizen. (She naturalized at age 21.) 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she represented Poland, winning a gold medal in the 100 m dash and tying the world record of 11.9 seconds. She was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit for her achievements and was voted the most popular person in Polish sports three years in a row. In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, she attempted to defend her 100 m dash title but won the silver medal instead by just 0.02 seconds. Her opponent in this race, US athlete Helen Stephens, was accused by a Polish newspaper reporter of being male and was forced to submit to a genital inspection, which confirmed that she was female. (This was before steroids were widely used for advantage in athletics.) Stella won her last U.S. title in 1951 at the age of 40.
After retiring as an athlete, Stella remained active with a number of organizations supporting the Polish diaspora in sports. In 1954, she appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's radio quiz and interview show "You Bet Your Life." She married aviation draftsman Harry Olson in 1965, but they divorced shortly after.
Stella was murdered during a robbery in the parking lot of a Cleveland discount store buying ribbons for a welcoming ceremony for visiting Polish basketball players. It was discovered after her death that she was an intersex woman.
In 1974, Stella Walsh was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.
Stella began running track at Cleveland's South High School. In 1927, she qualified for a place on the United States Olympic team but could not compete because she was not yet a US citizen. (She naturalized at age 21.) 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she represented Poland, winning a gold medal in the 100 m dash and tying the world record of 11.9 seconds. She was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit for her achievements and was voted the most popular person in Polish sports three years in a row. In the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, she attempted to defend her 100 m dash title but won the silver medal instead by just 0.02 seconds. Her opponent in this race, US athlete Helen Stephens, was accused by a Polish newspaper reporter of being male and was forced to submit to a genital inspection, which confirmed that she was female. (This was before steroids were widely used for advantage in athletics.) Stella won her last U.S. title in 1951 at the age of 40.
After retiring as an athlete, Stella remained active with a number of organizations supporting the Polish diaspora in sports. In 1954, she appeared as a contestant on Groucho Marx's radio quiz and interview show "You Bet Your Life." She married aviation draftsman Harry Olson in 1965, but they divorced shortly after.
Stella was murdered during a robbery in the parking lot of a Cleveland discount store buying ribbons for a welcoming ceremony for visiting Polish basketball players. It was discovered after her death that she was an intersex woman.
In 1974, Stella Walsh was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975.
Bio by: HH
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