European Athletics is sad to hear the news that Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games discus champion Olga Fikotova-Connolly has passed away at the age of 91 on Saturday (12).
The Czech thrower was the last living female Olympic athletics gold medallist from these Games.
In a memorable competition which saw the Olympic record broken four times, Fikotova-Connolly triumphed with her fifth-round effort of 53.69m.
At the Games, Fikotova as she was then, met the USA’s Hal Connolly, who was to win the hammer gold medal the day after Fikotova’s victory.
The pair had a much-publicised romance which saw them later get married in Prague’s Old Town Square in front of 30,000 people with fellow Olympic champions Emil Zatopek and Dana Zatpkova as their witnesses.
After the marriage, Fikotova-Connolly moved to the USA and competed in four more Olympics for her adopted country.
She was also a talented basketball player and won a 1954 European Championships silver medal as part of the Czechoslovakia team.
Later in life, she became well-known as a coach and fitness instructor.
European Athletics would like to send their condolences to all Fikotova-Connolly’s family and friends.