The women's high jump event at the 1932 Olympic Games took place August 7.[1] When world record holder and returning silver medalist Lien Gisolf failed at 1.60, the medalists were determined. Eva Dawes made the next height but was unable to make 1.62m leaving her with the bronze medal. The two American jumpers Jean Shiley and Babe Didrikson jumped evenly through the rest of the competition. Both cleared a new world record of 1.65 m (5 ft 4+3⁄4 in) on their first attempt and then missed at 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in). A jump-off was ordered at 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and both Americans had successful clearances on their first attempt. But after Didrikson’s jump, the officials convened and ruled that she had jumped head-first, which was then illegal, and was termed diving. This gave the gold medal to Jean Shiley. Didrikson later noted that she had jumped in the same style throughout the competition.[2]
United States
Canada
Netherlands
South Africa
Germany
Japan
