Florieda Batson

Florieda Batson was captain of the first American women's Olympic team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florieda_Batson

Florieda Batson (born November 20, 1900, New Orleans, Louisiana; died January 31, 1996, New Orleans) was an American hurdler and captain of the United States team at the Women's Olympics in Paris in 1922.

Batson was the youngest of three children born to Robert Percy Batson, a successful New Orleans businessman, and his wife Florieda Burton Batson. Mrs. Batson died when Florieda was 3, and Florieda's two older brothers died in accidents. Mr. Batson sent Florieda to live with relatives in Alabama and New York, and she attended Rosemary Hall Academy (later Choate Rosemary Hall) in Connecticut.

At Rosemary, Batson learned hurdling as well as playing field hockey and basketball. She quickly became the leading American short-distance female hurdler; Batson was undefeated between 1919 and 1921 and set U.S. records in the 60-yard high hurdles (9.0 seconds) and the 100-yard low hurdles (14.4 seconds).

After graduating from Rosemary, Batson enrolled at Smith College. In 1922, she was invited to join the team of 13 U.S. women attending the 1922 Women's Olympics, an event organized by French women's athletics pioneer Alice Milliat. The team, mostly consisting of East Coast prep school and college students like Batson, chose her as captain.

At the Paris games, Batson sprained her left ankle when she hit a hurdle during the team's first practice. She won her qualifying heat, but failed to finish the final when her injured ankle caused her to fall.

After the Women's Olympics, Batson returned to New Orleans, where she married local businessman William J. Gibbens, Jr. The couple had two daughters. When Florieda Batson Gibbens died in 1996, she was survived by 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

References

http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2008/07/history_in_the_making_floried...

"Floreida Burton Batson was born on November 20, 1900, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Robert Percy and Emma Burton Batson and was team captain. Floreida graduated in 1921, from Rosemary Hall (now Choate Rosemary Hall) where she was active in field hockey, basketball, and track. At Rosemary hall, Floreida set the American record in both the 60-yard high hurdles with a time of 9 seconds, and the 100-yard low hurdles with a time of 14 2/5 seconds. Floreida attended Smith College where she played forward on the Freshman basketball team.

While at Rosemary Hall, Floreida held the American record in both the 60-yard high hurdles with a time of 9 seconds, and the 100-yard low hurdles with a time of 14 2/5 seconds. These were also preparatory school records.

Floreida Batson was captain of the US team. While training in Paris, Floreida sprained her ankle. At the meet, Floreida was a contestant in the 100-yard hurdles and a member of the 440-yard relay. During her heat for the 100-yard hurdles she established a new world's record, but finished 4th in the finals. The US team was penalized in the 440-yard relay. In 1923, she married William Joseph Gibbens, Jr. They had two daughters. Floreida Batson Gibbens died in 1996." [http://lits.columbiasc.edu/edenslibrary/jane/Teammates.htm]