Olga FIKOTOVA-CONNOLLY

Olga Fikotová, a student at the Charles University of Medicine in Prague, took the Czech discus title in 1955 and 1956 and then went on to win the Olympic gold medal with a new Games record of 176-1 (53.67). Her much-publicized romance with Hal Connolly, who won the hammer throw for the U.S., captured more headlines than her Olympic victory. The two were subsequently married and, as an American citizen, she represented the U.S. at the next four Olympics. Olga Connolly won five AAU titles between 1957 and 1968 and, at the Olympics, she finished seventh in 1960, 12th in 1964, and then sixth in 1968. Four years later, as a 39-year-old mother of four children, she came out of retirement and showed the best form of her long career. After having a new U.S. record of 177-5 (54.07) disallowed on a technicality at the beginning of 1972, she officially beat Earlene Brown’s 12-year-old record with a throw of 179-2 (54.61) in early May, and then improved the record to 185-3 (56.46) later in the month. At the 1972 Olympics, Olga Connolly did not maintain her early season form. She was selected to carry the U.S. flag at the 1972 Opening Ceremony, however, and was preoccupied during those Games with promoting the Olympics as a forum for world peace. Olga and Hal Connolly were divorced in the mid-70s but one of their sons became a national-caliber javelin thrower and decathlete, and one of their daughters played on the U.S. national volleyball team.

Personal Best: DT – 189-0 (57.61) (1972).