The Babe is here. Who's coming in second? Quote by : Mildred Didrikson

Mildred Didrikson was one of the most famous athletes of all time. She was born on June 6 th in the year 1911, in the coastal city of Port Arthur in Southern eastern Texas. Her parents were immigrants from Norway. Her father, Ole Didriksen, was a seamen and a carpenter. Her mother, Hannah, was an accomplished skater.In fact, she was the sixth child out of all seven children. Three of her siblings were born in Norway and the others were born in Port Arthur. Her parents were great supporters,and that led their children into a path of talented gymnasium skilled performers. Since Mildred's surname was misspelled in her school records, Mildred lived her life with the name Didrikson instead of Didriksen. She played with her siblings, and with her fathers homemade backyard gymnasium equipment. She was named Babe after the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth. For example, she even played baseball with boys and gained a reputation as a talented tomboy. She was also able to hit the ball out of the park. Since she spent most of her time playing sports, she was considered a gifted girl with talent.

Babe Didrikson was known as a famous girl. She married George Zaharias, a professional wrestler, in St. Louis Missouri, on December 23, Thereafter she was known as Babe Zaharias. The Zaharias, had no children but were denied when wanting to adopt. Mildred's first job after high school was as a secretary for the Employers Casualty Insurance Company of Dallas. Representing her company in the 1932 AAU Championships, she competed in eight out of ten events and she won five of them. In fact, she even set five world records in the javelin throw, 80 meter hurdles, high jump and baseball throw in a single afternoon. Later on in 1943 she went on to win seventeen tournaments, including the British Womens Amateur Championship, nevertheless she was the first American to win it too. She was also the LPGA Leading Money Winner between 1949 and Furthermore, I n 1950 the Associated Press voted her Woman Athlete of the Half-Century. In April of 1953 Mildred underwent a colostomy to remove cancerous tissue. Despite the doctors medical prediction that she would never be able to play championship golf again, she was in the tournament competition fourteen weeks after surgery. The Golf Writers of America even voted her the Best Hogan Trophy as comeback player of the year. In 1954 she won five tournaments, she even played for cancer fund benefits. In June 1955 she was forced to reenter John Sealy Hospital at the University of Texas Medical branch in Galveston for further diagnosis. The medical treatment that she was undergoing wasnt able to decrease the spreading cancer, and she spent much of the remaining fifteen months of her life in the hospital. In September 1955, she and her husband established the Babe Didrikson Zaharias fund, which financed a tumor clinic at UTMB. Sadly, Mildred died at John Sealy hospital on September 27,1956 at the age of forty-five and was buried in Beaumont. Mildred Didrikson is a notable woman because she was the most popular female golfer of her time and since. Mildred Didrikson was also voted athlete of the year by the Associated Press six times during her career. Mildred was such an outstanding athlete that between the years of 1940 and 1950 she won every women's golf title. Mildred was a very kind person, and not for one minute did she think that she was better then everyone else because of the many titles,trophies, and medals she won. She encouraged people to try their hardest and she helped financed many organizations by funding mone y. Finally, Mildred Didrikson is an inspiration, because she is an encouragement to girls that sexism wont stop anyones dream from coming true.

Because of the many great things that Mildred Didrikson accomplished she should be admired. Even though she won many different titles in the athletic field, and won forty-one LPGA tours she should not only be admired because of that. She should be admired of not letting peoples rude comments towards her affect the way she played sports; however,it should be remembered that she was very dedicated and didnt even give up the tournament after she had surgery because of the cancer that she had. Not only did she play sports for herself, but she played for a good cause for other organizations as well. Mildred Didrikson should be admired, because there are many young girls all across the world that are told that they cant play a type of sport because of their gender. However Mildred Didrikson didnt care about anyone's opinion towards her, she just played from the heart like she always did. Mildred Didrikson should be admired for knowing that before she was even in her teens she wanted to be a successful athlete, and that surely did happen for her. Finally, and like Mildred said,You know when there's a star, like in show business, the star has her name in lights on the marquee! Right? And the star gets the money because the people come to see the star, right? Well, I'm the star, and all of you are in the chorus." And she will always be that star for many years and years to come. She was able to succeed in playing and winning these sports. She in an inspiration to what life is all about. Because there were few sports opportunities for women, she was famous for playing very good. Mildred accomplished playing and being great in so many sports that she became a notable women.

Factmonster " Fact Monster. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster. 01 Apr Factmonster "Info please Article." Fact Monster. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster. 01 Apr NYPL Database FIVE GAME-CHANGERS WOMEN'S SPORTS. Coach & Athletic Director, , Mar2006, Vol. 75, Issue 8 Academic Search Premier Organization Mildred Didrikson. ® IOC 2009 International Olympics