Betty Robinson: The Story of the Olympian Who ‘Died’ and Came Back to Life to Win Gold

Though the chatter about the 2024 Olympic Games has quieted down, that hasn’t stopped others from reflecting on some of the most impressive (or viral) athletes from over the years. Reddit users have happily been discussing one runner whose story continues to stun nearly 90 years later: Betty Robinson, the athlete who “died” and came back to win gold. Keep reading to learn more about the women’s track champion and how Robinson made a remarkable turnaround after a devastating plane crash.

The origin story of Betty Robinson, the Olympian

Robinson, born in Riverdale, Illinois in 1911, had her life completely changed on a rather mundane day after school. The then 16-year-old Thornton Township High School student had to run to catch the train, a nearly impossible task for most.

In fact, her science teacher Charles Price saw her sprinting after the train and, although impressed by her speed, knew there was no way she could catch up. Once on board, however, he was shocked to see the teenager was on the seat next to him, reports the Museum of World Athletics .

As a coach at the school, Price was eager to put her skills to the test and had her run over 50 meters. That showcase of talent quickly landed her a spot on the boys’ track team, as a girls' track team did not exist at the time.  From there, her running career only flourished. (Looking to get into running? Check out the best running shoes to wear).

Betty Robinson’s first Olympic games

Robinson began athletic training and after only four months was pitted on the track against US record-holder Helen Filkey. But the teenager came out on top and snagged her spot on the US Olympic team at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. This was an impressive feat due to not only her age, but her greenness in the sport!

The Illinois native’s success continued at the games, as well. According to the Olympics website , she set a world record for the 100 meter event during her first outdoor meet. In the final race, she snagged the win by half a meter!

This close victory garnered a lot of attention. The reason? Robinson became the inaugural Olympic champion for the event, which was the first women’s track event to ever be included in the games.

In an interview decades later for the book, Tales of Glory: An Oral History of the Summer Olympic Games Told By America's Gold Medal Winners , she shared her memory of the victory. “I can remember breaking the tape, but I wasn't sure that I'd won,” she said. “It was so close. But my friends in the stands jumped over the railing and came down and put their arms around me, and then I knew I'd won. Then, when they raised the flag, I cried.”

But that wasn’t her only accomplishment in the games. Robinson also won a silver medal as part of the 4x100 meter relay team.

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Betty Robinson’s plane crash

After returning home from the games, the champion athlete continued to make strides in her life. She began attending Northwestern University to pursue a degree in physical education while also setting her sights on the 1932 Olympic games that would take place in Los Angeles.

But her dreams came to a halt after a terrible accident led her to believe her running days were over. Robinson and her cousin embarked on a plane tour, but right after take-off, the plane took a nosedive and crashed.

The injuries were so severe that the local man who found her presumed her to be dead, and he drove her to a mortician. Thankfully, the crash hadn’t proven to be fatal, but Robinson had a long road ahead — it took her seven weeks just to regain consciousness.

A return to the track was almost out of the question, as doctors reportedly told her she would never race again. Even the ability to walk was something that seemed far-fetched after the accident, and the Olympian ended up spending six months in a wheelchair .

Betty Robinson’s second Olympic games

Against all odds, Robinson did learn to walk again thanks to two years of rehabilitation. She had to miss the 1932 games she had been working towards, but that didn’t cause her to give up!

With a lot of patience and determination, the athlete was able to earn a spot in the 1936 Olympic games. The only caveat? She wasn’t able to kneel anymore because of the previous fractures she had sustained in her left leg. This meant her only opportunity to run again was as part of the relay team — and it wasn’t easy!

“It was really a struggle to make the team in 1936. I had to work overtime,” she said, according to Runner’s World .

Although the German team was considered the favorites to win the 4x100 meter final, they ended up dropping the baton. The US athletic team, consisting of Robinson, Harriet Bland, Annette Rogers and Helen Stephens, came out victorious to win Olympic gold. That meant a second Olympic gold medal for Robinson, a plane crash survivor.

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Betty Robinson’s post-Olympics life

After the games, she made the decision to retire from the sport at the age of 24. Though unable to keep competing, she stayed involved in the sport throughout her life by volunteering as a referee and serving as an advocate for women in sports.

Robinson’s achievements continued to be recognized, and she was inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1977. She also had the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch for the 1996 games in Atlanta.

Though Robinson died in 1999 at the age of 87, her legacy lives on. To this day, many are still in awe at her impressive comeback!

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