Shot Put, Women

While overshadowed by Fanny Blankers-Koen’s four gold medals, the three Olympic medals won by Micheline Ostermeyer were just as remarkable. She doubled in winning the shot put and discus throw, and added a bronze in the high jump. In addition to these events, she was also a good sprinter and pentathlete. The Frenchwoman’s talents did not end there, as she was also a concert pianist. She had won several piano competitions, and graduated from the Conservatoire Nationale in 1948. Ostermeyer was not the best female shot putter on the 4th of August 1948, however. In the Soviet Union, which did not take part in the Olympics, a contest was organized which featured among others European Champion Tatyana Sevryukova. With 14.59 (47-10½), she set a new World Record, well ahead of the 13.75 (45-1½) that Ostermeyer achieved in London.