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Shirley Gordon Olafsson (born Shirley Gordon; 10 April 1927 – 23 November 2019) was a Canadian athlete. She competed in the women's high jump at the 1948 Summer Olympics tying for 11th place.

Gordon was born with a deformed left foot. She walked with a limp and used crutches until she was 13. Unable to compete in team sports, she taught herself the high jump. She joined a track club after a friend who was invited insisted that they admit Shirley as well. She married Herbert Olafsson, who was a member of the Canadian National Basketball team.

References

1. Beck, Jason (14 October 2011). "Olympian with 'turned foot' made history". Vancouver Courier. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
2. Richmond remembers acclaimed athlete Shirley Olafsson
3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Shirley Gordon Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
4. ^ Hawthorn, Tom (30 April 2019). "Widow, 84, didn't let disability stop her from reaching Olympics". Retrieved 11 May 2019.

External links

• Shirley Gordon at Olympedia
• Shirley Gordon at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)
• Shirley Olaffson on the BC Sports Hall of Fame

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• Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics
• Canadian female high jumpers
• Olympic track and field athletes for Canada
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• Commonwealth Games competitors for Canada
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• Canadian Track and Field Championships winners
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