Eliška Misáková
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(awarded posthumously) Eliška Misáková (12 October 1926 in Kojetice – 14 August 1948 in London) was a
Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...
gymnast Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, sh ...
who was selected to attend the
1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...
. Misáková was born in Kojetice, in the
Třebíč District Třebíč District () is a district in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Třebíč. Administrative division Třebíč District is divided into three administrative districts of municipalities with extended c ...
of Vysočina. Her parents both died before her in 1948. She was diagnosed with
poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis ( ), commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 75% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe ...
soon after arrival in London, and isolated in a local hospital ward, with access to an
iron lung An iron lung is a type of negative pressure ventilator, a medical ventilator, mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person's body and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space to stimulate breathing. It assists breathing when Musc ...
. Her place on the team was taken by Věra Růžičková. Misáková died during the competition, after four days in the
Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon, northwest of Charing Cross. Uxbridge formed part of the parish of Hillingdon in the county of Middlesex. As part ...
Isolation Hospital. The Czechoslovak team, including her sister
Miloslava Miloslav is a Slavic masculine given name, derived from the Slavic root ''mil-'', "merciful" or "dear", and ''-slav'' ''glory''. Name variants * feminine form: Miloslava * diminutive form: Miloš * Polish: Miłosław/Miłosława * Czech fe ...
, went on to earn the gold medal. Their flag was raised at the medal ceremony with a black border of mourning, and Misáková became the only athlete to ever be awarded a posthumous
Olympic medal An Olympic medal is awarded to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games. There are three classes of medal to be won: gold medal, gold, silver medal, silver, and bronze medal, bronze, awarded to first, second, and third place, respect ...
. Because of the infectious nature of her illness, her body was cremated before repatriation and her ashes returned to Prague in an urn.


References

1926 births 1948 deaths Czech female artistic gymnasts Olympic deaths Olympic gymnasts for Czechoslovakia Gymnasts at the 1948 Summer Olympics People from Třebíč District Deaths from polio Sportspeople from the Vysočina Region {{CzechRepublic-artistic-gymnastics-bio-stub