Dorothy Beatrice J. ODAM-TYLER

Dorothy Odam-Tyler won high jump silver medals in 1936 and 1948, the only women to win track & field Olympic medals both before and after World War II. Her other major titles included winning the 1938 and 1950 British Empire and Commonwealth Games high jump. She was second at that meet in 1954 and at the 1950 European Championships. She started out in the scissors style, but changed to the Western Roll in 1951.

Odam-Tyler won eight WAAA titles outdoors (1936-39, 1948-49, 1952, 1956) and four indoors (1936-39). Outdoors she placed in the top three 14 times. She also won British titles in the long jump and pentathlon in 1951, and competed at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in long jump and javelin throw, in addition to her specialty. In 1939 she set a world record by jumping 1.66 metres. Odam-Tyler retired from international competition after the 1956 Olympics and went on to become a coach, official and British team manager. In 2012 she was the official starter for the London Marathon.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.68 (1948).