Elizabeth Robinson (August 23, 1911 – May 18, 1999) was an American athlete, winner of the first Olympic 100 m for women. August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Athletics, also known, especially in American English, as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events, which can roughly be divided into running, throwing, and jumping. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ...

Robinson ran her first 100 m race on March 30, 1928, aged 16. She finished second only to the American record holder. At her next race, she equalled the World Record, though her time was not recognised.

At the Amsterdam Olympics, her fourth 100 m competition, Robinson reached the final and won, equalling the world record. She was the inaugural Olympic champion in the event, since athletics for women had not been on the programme before, and its inclusion was in fact still heavily disputed among officials. With the American relay team, Robinson added a silver medal to her record. The Games of the IX Olympiad were held in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline, usually a sports event. ...

In 1931, Robinson was involved in a plane crash, and was severely injured. She was fortunate to recover, but missed the 1932 Olympics in her home country. 1931 (MCMXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Games of the X Olympiad were held in 1932 in Los Angeles, United States. ...

Still unable to kneel for a normal 100 m start, Robinson was a part of the US relay team at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Running behind the heavily favoured Germans when Robinson turned over the baton to Helen Stephens, the Germans dropped the baton, allowing Robinson to win her second Olympic title. The Games of the XI Olympiad were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ... Helen Herring Stephens (February 3, 1918 – January 17, 1994) was an American athlete, a double Olympic champion in 1936. ...

Retiring after the Berlin Olympics, Betty Robinson remained involved in athletics as an official. She died aged 87, suffering from cancer and Alzheimer's disease. When normal cells are damaged beyond repair, they are eliminated by apoptosis. ...

See also

• Olympic medalists in athletics

These are the female Olympic medalists in athletics. ...

External link

• Riverdale Historical Society page on Robinson