Forgotten Legacy of Stella Walsh

About this book

Stella Walsh, born in Poland but raised in the United States, competed for Poland at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, winning gold and silver in the 100 meters. Running and jumping competitively for three decades, she also won more than 40 U.S. national championships and set dozens of world records. In 1975, she was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, yet her impressive accomplishments have been almost entirely ignored. A pioneer in women's sports, Walsh was one of the first globetrotting athletes, running in meets all over North America, Europe, and Asia. While her accomplishments are undeniable, Walsh's legacy was called into question after her murder in 1980 and her autopsy revealed she had ambiguous genitalia. In addition to telling her fascinating story, the author provides a close look at the early days of women's track and field and examines the complicated and controversial question of sex and gender identity in athletics--an issue very much in the news today.