Elly Dammers

Elly Dammers’ athletic career peaked during the Second World War. She won the Dutch title in the javelin throw four times during that period (1940, 1942-1944), and became the first Dutch athlete to beat 40 metres in the javelin, which she did in 1943. Nationally, she was then eclipsed by Ans de Koning, who took her Dutch record and bested her at the first post-war European Championships in 1946. There, De Koning placed third, just ahead of Dammers in fourth. Dammers, who was an office worker for the Dutch Postal Telephone and Telegraph, also played field handball with the Dutch national women’s team. She retired after the 1949 season, having placed 8th in the 1948 London Olympics.

Personal Best\: JT – 41.99 (1946).