(awarded posthumously) Eliška Misáková (12 October 1926 in Kojetice – 14 August 1948 in London) was a Czech gymnast who was selected to attend the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...

. Misáková was born in Kojetice, in the

Třebíč District Třebíč District ( cs, okres Třebíč) is a Okres, district in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Třebíč. Administrative division Třebíč District is divided into three Districts of the Czech Republic#Mu ...

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 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe sym ...

soon after arrival in London, and isolated in a local hospital ward, with access to an iron lung. Her place on the team was taken by Věra Růžičková. Misáková died during the competition, after four days in the Uxbridge Isolation Hospital. The Czechoslovak team, including her sister

Miloslava Miloslav is a Slavic names, 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 ...

, 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. 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 of Czechoslovakia Gymnasts at the 1948 Summer Olympics People from Třebíč District Deaths from polio Sportspeople from the Vysočina Region {{CzechRepublic-artistic-gymnastics-bio-stub