15 Facts About Betty Robinson

Betty Robinson was a student at Thornton Township High School when she achieved national acclaim as an Olympic champion.

Betty Robinson's talent was discovered by her science teacher Charles Price, who saw her running to catch the train after school.

Betty Robinson was a former athlete and the coach of the school team.

At the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, her third 100 m competition, Betty Robinson was the only US athlete to qualify for the 100 m final.

Betty Robinson reached the final and won, equaling the world record of 12.2 seconds.

Betty Robinson was the inaugural Olympic champion in the event, since athletics for women had not been on the program before, and its inclusion was in fact still heavily disputed among officials.

Betty Robinson remains the youngest athlete to win Olympic 100 m gold.

Six decades later, Robinson was interviewed for a book, Tales of Glory: An Oral History of the Summer Olympic Games Told By America's Gold Medal Winners, by Lewis H Carlson and John J Fogarty.

Betty Robinson joined Northwestern University where she decided to pursue a physical education degree, hoping to become a coach at the 1936 Olympics.

Betty Robinson joined the rifle team at Northwestern in addition to running track there.

On 28 June 1931, Betty Robinson was involved in a plane crash and was severely injured.

Betty Robinson took her to Oak Forest infirmary, locally known as the "Poor Farm", because he knew the undertaker.

Betty Robinson took the lead and handed off the baton to Helen Stephens, resulting in her second Olympic gold medal.

Betty Robinson worked in a hardware store for many years.

Betty Robinson died at age 87, suffering from cancer and Alzheimer's disease.