Pam Kilborn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Women's athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1964 Tokyo | 80 m hurdles | |
| Silver | 1968 Mexico City | 80 m hurdles | |
Pamela Kilborn-Ryan (born August 12, 1939 in Melbourne) is a former Australian athlete who set world records as a hurdler.
Kilborn was also an Olympic class sprinter, Long Jumper and pentathlete, winning Australian championships in these events.
At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, Kilborn won the 80 m hurdles race before winning the long jump contest ahead of two countrywomen Helen Frith (silver) and Janet Knee (bronze).
Two years later, at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she won the bronze medal behind Karin Balzer (gold) and Teresa Ciepły (silver) after having equalled the Olympic record in the semi final heat.
Soon after the Games, she equalled the World Record for 80 m Hurdles, running 10.5 in Tokyo. On February 6, 1965 in Melbourne, she bettered her record with a 10.4 time.
At the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica she won gold medals in 80 m hurdles and 4x110 yards relay. In 1967 she broke Christine Perera's 100 m hurdles world record of 13.7 seconds and improved it twice up to 13.3 seconds in 1969.
Favourite for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City she won a silver medal in the last Olympic 80 m race ever, only beaten by her teenage countrywoman Maureen Caird.
In 1970 the hurdling distance had been extended to 100 metres and, competing at the British Commonwealth Games, she beat Caird to take yet another gold medal. Earlier in the Games she was chosen to carry the Australian standard in the Opening Ceremony; the first time a woman had been awarded this honour.
After a brief retirement, she returned to the track for one last Olympic campaign. She set a World Record of 12.5 shortly before the 1972 Olympics in Munich, but could only run fourth in the Olympic final.
At 200 m hurdles, Kilborn-Ryan set four official world records between 1969 and 1971, with a best of 25.7. In addition, she set a world record for 4 x 220 yards relay of 1:35.8 in Brisbane on November 9, 1969, teaming with Raelene Boyle, Jenny Lamy and Marion Hoffman.
