The Story of Betty Robinson, the Olympian Who Died in a Plane Crash and Then Came Back to Win a Gold Medal ~ Vintage Everyday

Robinson ran her first official race on March 30, 1928, at the age of 16, at an indoor meet where she finished second to Helen Filkey, the American 100 m record holder, in the 60 meter sprint. At her next race on June 2, outdoor 100 meters, she defeated Filkey to equal the world record, although her time was not recognized as it was considered wind-driven.

At the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, her third 100-meter race, Robinson was the only American athlete to qualify for the 100-meter final. She reached the final and won, equaling the world record of 12.2 seconds. She was the event’s first Olympic champion, as women’s athletics had not previously been on the program and in fact its inclusion was still heavily disputed among officials. She remains the youngest athlete to win Olympic gold in the 100 meters. With the American relay team in the 4×100 meters, Robinson added a silver medal to her record.

“I remember breaking the tape, but I wasn’t sure I won,” Robinson recalled. “It was so close. But my friends in the stands jumped over the railing, came down and put their arms around me, and that’s when I knew I had won. When they raised the flag, I cried.”

In an effort to cool down on a hot summer day, Robinson joined her cousin on a flight in his small plane. While the plane was taking off as usual, something went wrong in the air, causing the small plane to crash into the ground.

When people arrived at the crash site, both Robinson and her cousin were unconscious. Robinson’s condition was so bad that a witness put the runner’s body in the trunk of his car and took her to a nearby funeral home. (On the other hand, the pilot was taken to the hospital and survived the crash. Later, he lost one of his legs, which was injured in the accident.)

The plane wreckage is seen at a Chicago airport on June 28, 1931. Olympic star Betty Robinson was seriously injured.

People stand near the plane that Betty Robinson rode in after it crashed in 1931.

Dr. JJ Minke, left, and charge nurse Eltine Scheimer care for 1931 Olympic star and plane crash victim Betty Robinson in the Oak Forest infirmary.

After the 1936 Games, Robinson retired from running, choosing to become a timekeeper and a public speaker promoting women’s running. In 1977, she was inducted into the U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame. In 1996 she carried the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

She also married, had two children and worked in a hardware store for many years. Betty Robinson died on May 17, 1999 after being diagnosed with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. She was 87 years old.

Today she is remembered as a pioneer for female athletes.

Betty Robinson Schwartz shows her Olympic gold medals in 1988.