August 25
1804: Alicia Thorton becomes the first female jockey
In 1804, Alicia Thornton became the first female jockey in England. She gained the honorary title after she challenged her neighbor and brother-in-law, Captain Flint to a race, riding at Knavesmire in Yorkshire in front of thousands of spectators.
1920: Ethelda Bleibtrey is the first woman to win a medal at the Olympic Games
In 1920, Ethelda Bleibtrey became the first woman to win at the Olympic Games. Famous for her impressive swimming abilities, Bleibtrey began her swimming career as a method of therapy to counter the effects of polio which she contracted in her early life. She went on to win three gold medals at the Olympic Games held in Antwerp, Belgium in 1920.
August 26th
Germany wins first Olympic field hockey match
In the first-ever Olympic women’s field hockey games, held in 2004 in Athens, Germany triumphed over the Netherlands to win a gold medal with a score of 2-1.
2012: Lydia Ko becomes youngest LPGA tour event winner
In 2012, Lydia Ko, a 15-year-old amateur golfer from New Zealand, became the youngest LPGA Tour event winner. With her victory, she also became the first amateur winner in the league since 1969.
August 27th
2004: China wins the country’s first Olympic gold in men’s track and field
In 2004, Liu Xiang of China, won gold in the 110m hurdles at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Xiang became the first Chinese Olympian to win gold in the men’s track and field events. His time matched the 1993 world record for the race set by Colin Jackson.
2019: Jessi Combs dies in car crash
In 2019, Jessi Combs died in a car wreck while trying to break the land speed record. Before she crashed, her jet-powered car locked a speed of 522.783 mph. Guinness World Records has confirmed Combs to be the first person to break the record in more than 40 years. She was posthumously awarded the record title.
August 29th
1950: International Olympic Committee votes to admit Germany & Japan in 1952
After banning Japan and Germany from the Olympic Games in 1948 for their roles in instigating WWII, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in 1950 to allow the nations to compete in the 1952 Olympic Games. Due to East Germany’s refusal to field a joint German team, West Germans were the only individuals from the country to participate.
