Babe Didrikson Zaharias

About the Author

Babe Didrikson Zaharias, born Mildred Ella Didriksen in 1911, was a trailblazing American athlete whose extraordinary versatility and unyielding determination redefined the boundaries of women's sports in the early 20th century. Excelling in track and field, golf, basketball, and baseball, she captured two gold medals and one silver at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, setting multiple world records along the way. Transitioning to professional golf, she won ten LPGA majors and co-founded the organization, becoming its first commissioner. Despite battling cancer twice, her indomitable spirit shone through in her autobiography, This Life I've Led: My Autobiography (A Dell book), where she candidly recounts her triumphs, challenges, and the prejudices she faced as a female competitor in a male-dominated arena. Zaharias's legacy as a pioneer endures, inspiring generations with her motto: 'It's not enough to swing at the ball. You've got to loosen your girdle and really let fly.' She passed away in 1956, leaving an indelible mark on sports history.