Kathlyn Kelly
Encyclopedia
Kathlyn Kelley Owens is an American
athlete who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin
. At the women's high jump competition
she placed a joint 9th after making 1.50m, but failing to clear 1.55m. Born in Seneca, South Carolina
, she was never on the track team at high school, but was coached by school principal Julian Davis, who encouraged her to try out for the Olympics and found track coaches from Clemson University
to work with her. At the 1936 United States Women's Olympic Trials
she tied for third place, which led to a jump-off against Ida Myers that left Kelly with a bronze medal from the event and a spot on the national Olympic team. It was the last women's jump-off at an American Olympic trail until 2000. Despite having made the team, however, she needed to raise $500 to fund her trip, which she found difficult owing to the Great Depression
. Davis, however, called upon South Carolina
state senator
Harry I. Hughes to convince the legislature, successfully, to pay for her journey. Prior to leaving for the Germany
she dined with the 1932 champion Jean Shiley
and, during the Olympics, she roomed with gold medalists Helen Stephens
and Betty Robinson
. She planned to train for the 1940 Summer Olympics
, and even received a track scholarship to Greenville Women's College (which later became a part of Furman University
), but was forced to leave the school after she was married in December 1938, per college policy. She then took up women's basketball
, which she played until the birth of her first daughter in 1942, and eventually settled with a career as a beautician
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. At the women's high jump competition
Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics
At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. The program of events was unchanged from the previous Games. There was a total of 776 participants from 43 countries competing.-Medal table:...
she placed a joint 9th after making 1.50m, but failing to clear 1.55m. Born in Seneca, South Carolina
Seneca, South Carolina
Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Seneca Micropolitan Statistical Area Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is...
, she was never on the track team at high school, but was coached by school principal Julian Davis, who encouraged her to try out for the Olympics and found track coaches from Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
to work with her. At the 1936 United States Women's Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
she tied for third place, which led to a jump-off against Ida Myers that left Kelly with a bronze medal from the event and a spot on the national Olympic team. It was the last women's jump-off at an American Olympic trail until 2000. Despite having made the team, however, she needed to raise $500 to fund her trip, which she found difficult owing to the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Davis, however, called upon South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
state senator
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
Harry I. Hughes to convince the legislature, successfully, to pay for her journey. Prior to leaving for the Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
she dined with the 1932 champion Jean Shiley
Jean Shiley
Jean Shiley Newhouse was a former American high jumper. She was born Jean Shiley in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Havertown, a Philadelphia suburb, where she joined the team at Haverford High School.Shiley tied with Babe Didrikson in the trials for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los...
and, during the Olympics, she roomed with gold medalists Helen Stephens
Helen Stephens
Helen Herring Stephens was an American athlete, a double Olympic champion in 1936.Stephens, nicknamed the 'Fulton Flash' after her birthplace Fulton, Missouri, was a strong athlete in sprint events - she never lost a race in her entire career - but also in weight events like the shot put and...
and Betty Robinson
Betty Robinson
Elizabeth Robinson , later Elizabeth R. Schwartz was an American athlete and winner of the first Olympic 100 m for women....
. She planned to train for the 1940 Summer Olympics
1940 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1940 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XII Olympiad and originally scheduled to be held from September 21 to October 6, 1940, in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II...
, and even received a track scholarship to Greenville Women's College (which later became a part of Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
), but was forced to leave the school after she was married in December 1938, per college policy. She then took up women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, which she played until the birth of her first daughter in 1942, and eventually settled with a career as a beautician
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
.