Published: March 14, 2000
Shirley Strickland de la Hunty was born in Perth, Western Australia, and went to boarding school at the age of 12. Though she was an outstanding student, de la Hunty was refused admission to the engineering school at the University of Western Australia because the engineering building had no restroom facilities for females. Undeterred, de la Hunty settled for nuclear physics instead and graduated with honors. Seeking a physical challenge to accompany the mental challenges of nuclear physics, she began participating in track.
In a day and age when most girls did not participate in sports because it was considered "unladylike," de la Hunty quickly rose to the top. At the 1948 Australian Championships, she placed first in the hurdles and second in the sprints. She competed in the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games. In the 1948 Games, she was one of only five women chosen to represent Australia. De la Hunty was the first woman to win a total of seven track and field gold medals, and the first woman to win gold medals in the 80m hurdles in successive Olympic Games.
After retiring from track and field, she coached numerous elite athletes in Australia and was the Olympic track and field team manager. De la Hunty is currently working with public relations efforts for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and will provide commentary for the track and field events. She has four children and 11 grandchildren.
De la Hunty has lived a fulfilling life and encourages girls to do so as well. She advises, "Develop and apply all your potential towards a beneficial use of your place while on this planet." She cites efficient time-management as an important tool in doing this.
De la Hunty was recognized for her contributions to women's sports when she was inducted into the Women's Sports Foundation's Women's Sports International Hall of Fame in 1998. Without athletes like her, girls would not have the opportunities in sports that they have today.