Micheline Ostermeyer

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Olympic medal record
Women's athletics
Gold	London 1948	Discus Throw
Gold	London 1948	Shot Put
Bronze	London 1948	High Jump

Micheline Ostermeyer (December 23, 1922 – October 18, 2001) was a French athlete and pianist.

Born in Rang-du-Fliers, France, she moved to Tunisia where her family lived. There she learned to play the piano, and played so well that she was sent back to France to attend the Conservatory. After the outbreak of World War II, she moved back to Tunisia, and discovered sports, competing in basketball and athletics.

After the war, she started competing in athletics, and emerged a very versatile athlete. She competed in very diverse events, eventually winning French titles at running, throwing and jumping events. She mixed her athletics career with music, playing—and winning—several contests at the time.

The 1948 Summer Olympics were Ostermeyer's finest hour as an athlete. She won gold medals in the shot put and discus throw, and a bronze medal in the high jump. Her performance was only overshadowed by Fanny Blankers-Koen, who won four gold medals at the same Olympics.

She retired from sports in 1950 after having won two medals at that year's European Championships, and continued to pursue a career in music. She kept playing the piano until her death in Bois-Guillaume.

[edit] Bibliography

• Bloit, Michel (1996). Micheline Ostermeyer, ou, La vie partagée. Paris: L'Harmattan. ISBN 2-7384-3892-X.

Olympic champions in women's shot put
1948: Micheline Ostermeyer | 1952: Galina Zybina | 1956: Tamara Tyshkevich | 1960: Tamara Press | 1964: Tamara Press | 1968: Margitta Gummel | 1972: Nadezha Chizhova | 1976: Ivanka Hristova | 1980: Ilona Slupianek | 1984: Claudia Losch | 1988: Natalya Lisovskaya | 1992: Svetlana Krivelyova | 1996: Astrid Kumbernuss | 2000: Yanina Korolchik | 2004: Yumileidi Cumba

Olympic champions in women's discus throw

1928: Halina Konopacka | 1932: Lillian Copeland | 1936: Gisela Mauermayer | 1948: Micheline Ostermeyer | 1952: Nina Romaschkova | 1956: Olga Fikotová | 1960: Nina Ponomaryeva | 1964: Tamara Press | 1968: Lia Manoliu | 1972: Faina Melnik | 1976: Evelin Schlaak | 1980: Evelin Jahl | 1984: Ria Stalman | 1988: Martina Hellmann | 1992: Maritza Martén | 1996: Ilke Wyludda | 2000: Ellina Zvereva | 2004: Natalya Sadova