The Rest on the Flight into Egypt Painting by Caravaggio

There have been many women athletes whose amazing performances in Olympics have brought gflory to the fair sex. Amongst them, the name of Francisca Fanny Blankers shall always glitter, who in spite of her advancing age, made Olympic history by her fantastic performance.

Fanny was born at Amsterdam (Holland) on Jaunary 26, 1918. She became interested in athletics at the early age of 14. She used to practise running, cycling and jumping for hours. In 1940, Fanny Blankers married her trainer Blankers. In spite of becoming a mother, she remained a top class woman athlete and was hailed as the “heroine of London Olympics”.