Athletics GOLD Home Page |
Profile - Chrissie Dahm
|
||||||
 |
Chrissie Dahm created a sensation in 1930 when she ran 100y in
the phenomenal time of 10.9. Although the world record run was ruled
wind assisted, she was considered a superb sprinter.
Dr. Otto Pelzer, the German world record holder for 800m,
observed Dahm and hurdler Clarice Kennedy during the 1930 Nationals
and thought the duo would more than hold their own against the top
European women. |
|||||
|
Christina WC Dahm first began running in professional ladies races in the early twenties. At this time the amateur women's clubs had disbanded and the pro leagues were the only competitions beyond school races for women. When the men's amateur association began conducting races for amateur females, Dahm was otherwise engaged, but she returned to the track in 1929 inspired by the participation of women in athletics at the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928. Chrissie Dahm won the inaugural Australian 100 yards championship in 1930 beating Queenslander Rita Dean by three yards in 11.3. She had earlier won her heat in a windy 11.1 - the fastest ever run by an Australian. Visiting German world record-holder Dr. Otto Pelzer, who ran in Australia during the 1929/30 season was particularly impressed with her performances and considered she would be on a par with the best European sprinters. She then returned to Sydney to win a NSW 100 yards event in 10.9 seconds. The time would have been a new world record but officials ruled that the wind had been too strong and the record application would be disallowed. That disappointment over, Miss Dahm soon had another one to deal with. During the National Championships Chrissie Dahm was considered by selectors and the media to be a certainty to go to the inaugural Empire Games in Canada. It was soon discovered that the Canadians had not included women's events on the final athletics program so no women were able to represent their country. She retired before the 1932 Olympic Games, citing ill-health as a result of over-training for the Olympics, but she returned to interclub competitions from 1933. In 1936, now married as Mrs. Walter, Chrissie Dahm became one of the first women starters, and continued her association with athletics as an official. PERSONAL BESTS 50y 6.5 22/02/29 Sydney 75y 8.5 02/01/32 Sydney 100y 10.9w 08/02/30 Sydney 11.1 25/01/30 Melbourne 150y 17.5w 17/01/31 Sydney 17.6 14/02/31 Sydney 220y 26.1 15/02/30 Sydney 60yH 9.0 29/03/30 Sydney LJ 5.09 25/02/33 Sydney HJ 1.38 03/02/34 Sydney SP 7.08 16/11/29 Sydney Jav 18.56 25/10/30 Sydney NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 100Y 1930 |
||||||
| An unofficial, non-profit, just-for-fun, page but © 1995-2003 by Graham Thomas | ||||||