Olympics of Grace

The Olympics of Grace (Italian: Olimpiadi della Grazia) was an international multi-sport event for women that was held from 29–31 May 1931 in Florence, Italy. Primarily composed of track and field events and contested by women from eleven European countries, the competition was a forerunner to women's participation in the European Athletics Championships.[1]

Tilly Fleischer, a multiple throws medallist at the competition, later won two medals at the Olympic Games.

History

The formation of the International Women's Sports Federation (FSFI) and the hosting of the 1921 Women's World Games in Monte Carlo, led by Alice Milliat, marked the growth of organised international women's sport.[2] The Grand Council of Fascism in Italy was partly encouraging of the movement but stated that, regardless of sporting prowess, motherhood was a woman's most important role.[3] Women's engagement in sport fitted the views of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, whose feminine ideal concerned rural, strong and fertile women, in opposition to ostentation and cosmopolitanism.[4] Still, reflecting the social background of antagonism or ambivalence towards pure athleticism in women, the 1931 sporting event was designated the Olympics of Grace. International promotional material around the event stressed it "will be devoted not to contests of speed, strength or skill, but to exhibitions of gymnastic grace".[5][6]

The tournament was supported by Italian women's sports organisations as well as the FSFI. It was not sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Both this event and the Women's World Games led to greater inclusion of women at the Olympic Games.[7] The number of Olympic women athletes increased over five-fold from the 1920 to the 1936 Summer Olympics (65 to 331).[8][9]

In addition to the track and field events, a dancing competition was held and the winner's cup was presented to a troupe of German dancers under the tutelage of Mary Wigman, one of the originators of modern expressionist dance.[10] It is not known what other events were held in Florence besides dance and athletics.

Medal summary

Athletics
Event Gold Silver Bronze
60 metres  Nellie Halstead (GBR)8.0  Lisa Gelius (GER)?  Detta Lorenz (GER)?
100 metres  Marie Dollinger (GER)12.6  Daisy Ridgeley (GBR)12.8  Lisa Gelius (GER)12.8
200 metres  Nellie Halstead (GBR)25.8  Marie Dollinger (GER)26.0  Mary Seary (GBR)?
80 metres hurdles  Muriel Cornell (GBR)13.0  Ondina Valla (ITA)13.2  Jacqueline Camberneux (FRA)?
3×100 metres relay  Great Britain (GBR)38.6  Italy (ITA)39.2  Czechoslovakia (TCH)?
4×400 metres relay  Great Britain (GBR)51.4  Germany (GER)51.8  Czechoslovakia (TCH)?
High jump  Katalin Vértessy (HUN)1.45 m  Jelka Tratnik (YUG)1.45 m  Mary Seary (GBR)1.40 m
Long jump  Muriel Cornell (GBR)5.46 m  Augustine Hargus (GER)5.20 m  Jelka Tratnik (YUG)5.03 m
Shot put  Tilly Fleischer (GER)12.23 m  Wanda Jasieńska (POL)11.64 m  Liesl Perkaus (AUT)11.33 m
Discus throw  Slava Blehová (TCH)36.51 m  Tilly Fleischer (GER)34.47 m  Helena Berson (POL)34.38 m
Javelin throw  Tilly Fleischer (GER)37.27 m  Augustine Hargus (GER)35.75 m  Pierina Borsani (ITA)31.18 m

Participation

Eleven European countries competed at the Olympics of Grace. Two unknown countries won no athletics medals.

References
  1. Olympiad of Grace. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  2. Gori, Gigliola (2004). Italian Fascism and the Female Body: Sport, Submissive Women and Strong Mothers (pg. 154). Routledge. 978-0714682914.
  3. Lo Sport (in Italian). La Donna nel Fascismo. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  4. Rizzoli, Biancamaria (2012-09-12). Il costume e la moda. (in Italian). Moda Arte. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  5. Florence Jan. 8, page 17. The San Bernardino County Sun (1931-01-09). Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  6. "Olympics of Grace" for Women. The Spokesman-Review (25 January 1931). Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  7. Leigh, Mary H.; Bonin, Thérèse M. (1977). "The Pioneering Role Of Madame Alice Milliat and the FSFI in Establishing International Trade and Field Competition for Women" (PDF). Journal of Sport History. North American Society for Sport History. 4 (1): 72–83. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  8. Antwerp 1920. IOC. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  9. Berlin 1936. IOC. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
  10. Wellesley College. "The Wellesley News" (1932-12-08). The Wellesley News. Book 935. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
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