Francina “Fanny” Elsje Blankers-Koen won four gold medals in the 100 m (11.9 s), 200 m (24.4 s), 80 m hurdles (11.2 s/world record), and 4×100 m relay (47.5 s) at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. In the 1930s and 1940s, she set 33 national records and 12 world records. Fanny herself finished sixth in the high jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Germany. She also won 5 European titles. This great woman was born on April 26, 1918 in Lage Vuursche, the Netherlands.
The American Virgin Islands sent 2 athletes to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary (Canada).
The Soviet Union -now Russia- won the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Paris (France) in 1956. Final ranking: 1. USSR; 2.Romania; 3.Poland; 4.Czechoslovakia; 5.Bulgaria; 6.Chinese; 7. North Korea; 8. East Germany; 9. USA; 10.Holland.
Nancy Vallecilla (Ecuador) finished 28th in the 100m hurdles at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was one of the best female athletes in South America.
The Norwegian team won the second edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Led by Ann-Kristin Aarones (the greatest soccer player ever), Norway defeated Germany 2-0 in the final.
The Peruvian women’s volleyball team won the silver medal at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis (Indiana, USA). The silver medalists were: Diana Uriol, Gabriela Pérez del Solar Cuculiza, Janeth Vasconsuelos, Luisa Cervera, Alejandra de la Guerra, Cecilia Tait Villacorta, Rosa García, Denisse Fajardo, Gina Torrealba, Natalia Málaga, Sonia Heredia. They were led by Man Bok Park (South Korea), one of the best coaches in the world.
The Australian women’s field hockey team won the gold medal at the 1994 World Cup. Final standings: 1.Australia; 2.Argentina; 3. USA; 4.Germany; 5. South Korea; 6.Holland; 7.Chinese; 8. Spain; 9.England; 10. Canada; 11. Ireland; 12. Russia.
Lida Fariman was the flag bearer for the Iranian Olympic team at the 1996 Olympic Games. Who is Lida? She is one of the best shooters in Iran.
The USA women’s basketball team won the FIBA World Championship in 1957. This was their second consecutive world title. Final standings: 1.USA; 2. USSR; 3.Czechoslovakia; 4. Brazil; 5.Hungary; 6. Paraguayan; 7.Chili; 8. Mexico City; 9.Argentina; 10 Australia; 11. Peru; 12. Cuba.
Israel sent 8 athletes to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (California, USA).
Ghada Shouaa is considered by the Syrian Olympic Committee as the first Syrian Olympic champion. Ghada finished first in the heptathlon at the 26th Olympic Games in the United States. She was ranked first in the world having competed at the IAAF World Championships in 1995, where she won a gold medal. Like Hassiba Boulmerka (Algeria / Olympic gold medalist, 1992) and Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco / Olympic gold medalist, 1984), she is one of the greatest Arab athletes of all time. Ghada was born on September 10, 1972 in Muhardeh (Syria).
The Russian women’s handball team won the World Championship in 2001. There were 24 teams. Final classification: 1.Russia; 2.Norway; 3.Yugoslavia; 4.Denmark; 5.France; 6.Hungary; 7.Austria; 8.Sweden; 9.Chinese; 10.Holland; 11. South Korea; 12.Italy; 13. Slovenia; 14. Spain; 15.Angola (Africa); 16. Brazil; 17.Romania; 18.Ukraine; 19.Tunisia; 20.Japan; 21. Macedonia; 22. Congo (Africa); 23.Uruguay; 24. Greenland (Danish territory).
Diane Bui-Duyet (New Caledonia/French Territory) was named the swimmer of the South Pacific Games in 2007. She had a strong performance in the 100m butterfly.
Nigeria sent six female athletes to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich (West Germany).
Brazil is one of the best volleyball teams in the world. It has outstanding volleyball players such as Isabel Barroso Alencar, Ana Mozer, Marcia Cunha, Fernanda Venturini, Ericleia Bonziack, Vera Mossa and Sandra Survagy.
History:
1951: South American Championship-1st place
1955: Pan American Games-3rd place
1956: South American Championship-1st place
1958: South American Championship-1st place
1959: Pan American Games-1st place
1960: World Championship-5th place
1961: South American Championship-1st place
1962: South American Championship-1st place; World Championship-8th place
1963: Pan American Games-1st place
1967: Pan American Games-4th place
1969: South American Championship-1st place
1970: World Championship-13th place
1973: World Cup-9th place; South American Championship-2nd place
1974: World Championship-16th place
1975: Pan American Games-5th place; South American Championship-2nd place
1977: South American Championship – 2nd place
1978: World Championship-7th place
1979: Pan American Games-3rd place; South American Championship-2nd place
1980: Olympic Qualification Tournament-3rd place; Olympics-7th place
1981: World University Games-3rd place; South American Championship-1st place; World Cup-8th place
1982: World Championship-6th place
1983: World University Games-1st place; South American Championship-2nd place; Pan American Games-4th place
1984: Olympic Games-7th place
1985: World Cup-6th place; South American Championship-2nd place
1986: World Championship-5th place
1987: Pan American Games-4th place; Junior World Championship-1st place; South American Championship-2nd place
1988: Olympic Qualification Tournament-2nd place; Olympics-6th place
1989: South American Championship-2nd place; Junior World Championship-1st place
1990: World Championship-7th place
1991: South American Championship-1st place; Pan American Games-2nd place; World Cup-8th place
1992: Olympic Games-4th place
1993: South American Championship – 2nd place
1994: World Championship-2nd place
1995: World Cup-2nd place; South American Championship-1st place; Pan American Games-6th place
1996: Olympic Games-3rd place
1997: World Cup-3rd place; South American Championship-1st place
1998: World Championship-4th place
1999: Pan American Games-1st place; World Cup-3rd place; South American Championship-1st place
2000: Olympic Games-3rd place
2001: South American Championship-1st place; Junior World Championship-1st place
2002: World Championship-7th place
2003: World Cup-2nd place; Pan American Games-4th place; Junior World Championship-1st place
2004: Olympic Games-4th place
2005: World Cup-1st place; Junior World Championship-1st place
2006: World Championship-2nd place; America’s Cup-1st place
2007: World Cup-2nd place; Pan American Games-2nd place; Junior World Championship-1st place; America’s Cup – 2nd place
