Thelma Kench
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | 19 February 1914 Palmerston North,New Zealand |
Died | 25 March 1985 (aged 71) Wellington,New Zealand |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event | 100 m |
Achievements and titles | |
Personalbest | 100 m – 12.4 (1930)[1][2] |
Thelma KenchlaterIrion(19 February 1914 – 25 March 1985) was a New Zealand sprinter who competed at the1932 Summer Olympics.
Athletic career
[edit]Kench, trained by her father,[3]competed in the 100 m and held the national title in 1930–1932. Her time equalled the world record, and she was at 16 the youngest to hold the title. Her "husky"[4]physique was much commented upon in the press,[5]and she was described as "nuggetty with massive legs".[6]
Kench's selection had some drama. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (NZAAA) selectors recommended three athletes for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, but because of the extra cost of a chaperone none were women. The NZAAA decided to nominate her, but as the New Zealand Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association (NZOCGA) only had funds to send three, the fourth would be sent at the expense of the NZAAA.[7]So the Wellington branch of the NZAAA raised £120 for her, although the Otago branch could not raise £50 forJack Lovelock.[6]In the Olympic semifinals of the 100 m race in Los Angeles she was third after 50 m but dropped back to sixth.[1][8]After the Olympics, she gained weight, which was also commented upon by the press,[9]and retired from track competition in 1933, at age 19.
Personal life
[edit]Kench was born in Palmerston North, and moved toWhanganui.[10]She married John Henry "Jack" Irion in 1940.[11][12]They had two sons and two daughters, and lived in Wellington, where she died in 1985, aged 71 years.[13]
References
[edit]- ^abThelma Kench.sports-reference.com
- ^Thelma Kench.trackfield.brinkster.net
- ^"Women Athletes Training Methods Revealed".Hawera Star.16 April 1932. p. 10.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^Hughes, Sid (12 July 1932)."Bang! And Girls Get Away".Los Angeles Evening Post-Record.p. 3.Retrieved7 August2021– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Babcock, Muriel (10 July 1932)."New Zealand Miss May Star".The Los Angeles Times.p. 62.Retrieved7 August2021– via Newspapers.com.
- ^abPeter Heidenstrom (1992).Athletes of the Century.GP Publications, Wellington. pp. 135–137.ISBN1-86956-044-2.
- ^"Going to Olympiad".Feilding Star.14 June 1932. p. 7 – via Papers Past.
- ^"Miss Kench Fails".Thames Star.3 August 1932. p. 2.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^"Miss Kench's Position in Athletics".Hawera Star.14 January 1933. p. 8.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^"Miss Thelma Kench".The Sun.21 March 1930. p. 9.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^"Engagements".Evening Post.28 February 1939. p. 18.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^"Girl Athlete Weds; Former Olympic Runner".Evening Post.9 February 1940. p. 11.Retrieved7 August2021– via Papers Past.
- ^"Irion, Thelma, 1914-1985".National Library of New Zealand.1 January 1914.Retrieved7 August2021.