Women competed in six track and field events at the 1932 Olympics, held in Los Angeles, a gain of one event over 1928. But the women had to take a step backward at the same time. The 80-meter hurdles and the javelin throw were added to the women’s program, but the 800-meter run was removed, following false and exaggerated reports that the 800 had been too stressful for female athletes at the 1928 Games.


Americans dominated the 1932 women’s competition, gaining five of the six gold medals, along with three silvers and one bronze.

100 Meters

Polish-born Stanislawa Walasiewicz (known as Stella Walsh in the United States) moved with her family to the U.S. when she was just three months old. But, not having gained American citizenship, she competed for Poland in the 1932 Olympics. Walasiewicz was 100 percent consistent in the Olympic 100-meter event, running a world record-tying 11.9 seconds in both her quarterfinal and semifinal heats, and then again in the final, to earn the gold medal. Canada’s Hilda Strike was second and American Wilhelmina von Bremen took third. Strike’s official time was also recorded at 11.9, but she was not officially recognized as a co-world record holder. In 1980, after Walasiewicz died, an autopsy revealed that she possessed both male and female characteristics.

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80-Meter Hurdles

One of the greatest and most versatile female athletes of all time, American Babe Didrikson won two gold medals at the 1932 Olympics and could easily have won a third (more on that later).

Didrikson equaled the 80-meter hurdles world record by winning her opening heat in 11.8 seconds, and then set a new world mark by winning the final in 11.7. Fellow American Evelyne Hall was second – also with an official time of 11.7 – while South Africa’s Marjorie Clark took third.

4 x 100-Meter Relay

With six nations competing in the 4 x 100-meter relay, there were no heats, just a final, which featured a tight battle between the U.S. in Canada. At the line, it was 100-meter bronze medalist von Bremen edging silver medalist Strike to give the U.S. the victory, while Great Britain finished third. The American team – which also included Mary Carew, Evelyn Furtsch and Annette Rogers – was timed in 46.86 seconds, to Canada’s 47.0. The time went into the IAAF record books as a world-record 46.9, but into the Olympic ledger as 47.0. 

High Jump

In their two biggest high-jump meets of the year, Americans Didrikson and Jean Shiley were as equal as possible. The two tied for first place at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and then tied for first again at the Olympics. Both women cleared 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5¼ inches) in Los Angeles – to set a new world record – but both missed at 1.676/5-6. They remained equal in the jump-off, as both topped 1.67/5-5¾, but Didrikson was controversially disqualified for using the Western roll technique, or “diving” as it was then known. That left Shiley with the gold medal and Didrikson the silver, while Canada’s Eva Dawes took the bronze. But Shiley and Didrikson were both recognized as co-world record holders.

Discus Throw

In the three months before the 1932 Olympics, the women’s discus throw world record was broken four times – three times by Poland’s Jadwiga Wajs and once by Germany’s Grete Heublein. But it was American Lillian Copeland who surpassed both record holders in Los Angeles. Copeland didn’t top Wajs’ world mark of 42.43/139-2, but the American still earned the gold medal with a throw measuring 40.58/133-1. Fellow American Ruth Osburn was second while Wajs finished third. Heublein placed fifth.

Javelin Throw

Didrikson gained her initial Olympic gold medal in a tight javelin throw competition, unleashing a winning toss of 43.69/143-4. Germans Ellen Braumuller and Tilly Fleischer took second and third, respectively. American world record holder Nina Gendele had to settle for fifth place.

Read more:

• 1928 Olympic Women’s Review
• 1932 Olympic Men’s Review (coming soon)
• Olympic Highlights: Brisco-Hooks Pioneers 200-400 Double