Aileen Aletha Meagher (November 26, 1910 – August 2, 1987) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

who competed in the

1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad (German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi-sp ...

, sharing bronze in the 4×100 metres event. She was also a

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

Life

She was born and died in Halifax,

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

. She joined the track team at

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the fou ...

. She was Canadian record holder in the 100- and 220-yard events. Aileen Meagher, 1931 200921106

In 1936 she was a member of the Canadian relay team which won the bronze medal in the 4×100 metres event with her teammates Dorothy Brookshaw, Mildred Dolson and

Hilda Cameron Competitor for Canada Hilda May Cameron (later ''Young'', August 14, 1912 – April 24, 2001) was a Canadian athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. She was born and died in Toronto. Cameron competed for Canada in the 1936 Summe ...

. In the 100 metre competition Meagher was eliminated in the semi-finals. At the 1934 Empire Games she won the gold medal with the Canadian team in the 220-110-220-110 yards relay contest and the silver medal in the 110-220-110 yards relay competition. In the 220 yards event she won the silver medal. Four years later she was part of the Canadian team she won the silver medal in the 110-220-110 yards relay competition and the bronze medal in the 220-110-220-110 yards relay event. In the 220 yards competition she finished fourth. In 1935, she was awarded the

Velma Springstead Trophy The Velma Springstead Trophy is an award presented annually to Canada's outstanding female athlete. It is named in honour of track athlete Velma Springstead whose career ended prematurely when she died from pneumonia in 1927 when only 20 years old. ...

, presented annually to Canada's outstanding female athlete. In 1965, she was inducted into the

Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame The Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame is an honour roll of the top Canadian Olympic athletes, teams, coaches, and builders (officials, administrators, and volunteers). It was established in 1949. Selections are made by a committee appointed by the Canad ...

. She is also a member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame and the

Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (french: Panthéon des sports canadiens; sometimes referred to as the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame) is a Canadian sports hall of fame and museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dedicated to the history of sports in Canad ...

. In 2018 Meagher was named one of the greatest 15 athletes in Nova Scotia's history, ranking eighth.

References

External links

sports-reference.com
*
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame profile

Aileen Meagher: Olympic Medallist and Canada's Flying Schoolmarm
at ''

Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management Nova Scotia Archives is a governmental archival institution serving the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The archives acquires, preserves and makes available the province's documentary heritage – recorded information of provincial significance ...

'' * * * * 1910 births 1987 deaths Canadian female sprinters 20th-century Canadian painters Olympic track and field athletes of Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists for Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 1934 British Empire Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Canada Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Canada Canadian people of Irish descent Sportspeople from Halifax, Nova Scotia Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) 20th-century Canadian women Olympic female sprinters Canadian women painters {{Canada-Olympic-medalist-stub