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1932 - Jean Shirley

Women's High Jump at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics

By , About.com Guide

In 1932, at the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Jean Shirley of the USA set a new world record and won the gold medal in the women's high jump. She cleared 5' 5-1/4", or 1.657 meters, in her record=setting jump.
1932 - Jean Shirley

Jean Shirley clears the bar in the high jump at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1932

Allsport / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

American Babe Didrikson actually tied Shirley for first place in the high jump, but Shirley was awarded the gold after the Olympic officials ruled Didrikson's jumping technique illegal.

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