Being a TrackGirl isn’t about age or lifestyle—it’s about spirit. Dutch track legend Francina ‘Fanny’ Blankers-Koen shattered expectations, proving that motherhood and greatness could go hand in hand. While critics told her to stay home, she dominated the Olympics, winning four gold medals and cementing her legacy as a true TrailblazHER. Champions aren’t defined by limits — they break them.

Early Success

Blankers-Koen enjoyed many sports as a child, but finally settled on running in her teenage years. She gained national recognition in 1935 when she won the Dutch championship in the 800m. But Blankers-Koen did not stop at mid-distance – she quickly expanded her repertoire to field and sprinting events. The following year, she placed 6th in the high jump nationally and competed in the 4x100m relay at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, becoming an Olympian at 17 years old.

Just two years later, in 1938, Blankers-Koen set her first world record in the 100m dash, clocking 11.0 seconds, and began collecting international medals. The world took notice as she set her sights on the Olympics. But with the 1940 and 1944 Games canceled due to World War II, she missed the chance to compete during what was considered a woman’s peak athletic years. Still, she refused to let those setbacks define her.

Fanny jumping over a hurdle in competition

Balancing Motherhood and Track

When Blankers-Koen had her first child in 1941, many assumed her athletic career was over. But she defied expectations, returning to training soon after giving birth and setting six world records between 1942 and 1944. Despite criticism for competing while raising two children, she remained deeply committed to both her family and her sport. She often brought her children to training and balanced motherhood with elite athletics, sometimes training just twice a week for two hours to prioritize her family. 

Fanny with two of her children

Despite her limited training and being three months pregnant with her third child, she dominated the 1948 London Olympic games, winning gold in four events. After winning the 100m and 80m hurdles, she reported feeling the pressure of the media and called her husband stating she was going to withdraw.

Fortunately, Blankers-Koen chose to persevere—and in doing so, made history. She dominated the 200m final, winning by 0.7 seconds—the largest margin in Olympic history at the time. In the 4x100m relay, she took the baton in fourth place but surged ahead, leading her team to  victory.

Upon returning to the Netherlands, she was celebrated as a hero, as she was the first Dutch athlete to receive an Olympic gold medal in track. Her neighbors presented her with a bicycle so she could “go through life at a slower pace” and she was paraded around Amsterdam in a horse-drawn carriage. She was even honorarily knighted by Queen Juliana.

Athlete of the Century: Record-Setter and Champion

Fanny surrounded by her trophys, awards, and newspaper features

Throughout the course of her decades-long career, Blankers-Koen set 16 different world records in 8 different events, showing her versatility and sustainability as an athlete. Between 1946 and 1950, at her peak, she won a historic 5 European championship titles and 58 Dutch national titles. 

While Blankers-Koen was offered many sponsorships and endorsements following her standout Olympics performance, she chose to instead travel to Australia and the United States to promote women’s sports, staying true to herself and her values. In 1999, she was recognized as the Female Athlete of the Century by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF).

Blankers-Koen is a true TrackGirl and a true TrailblazHER – demonstrating poise and excellence in all her competitions and authenticity in her actions. She truly was the athlete of the century.