Thelma Kench later Irion (19 February 1914 – 25 March 1985) was a New Zealand sprinter who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Thelma Kench
Thelma Kench at the 1932 Olympics
Personal information
Born19 February 1914
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Died25 March 1985 (aged 71)
Wellington, New Zealand
Sport
SportAthletics
Event100 m
Achievements and titles
Personal best100 m – 12.4 (1930)[1][2]

Athletic career

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Kench, trained by her father,[3] competed in the 100 m and held the national title in 1930–1932. Her time equalled the world record, and she was at 16 the youngest to hold the title. Her "husky"[4] physique was much commented upon in the press,[5] and she was described as "nuggetty with massive legs".[6]

Kench's selection had some drama. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (NZAAA) selectors recommended three athletes for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, but because of the extra cost of a chaperone none were women. The NZAAA decided to nominate her, but as the New Zealand Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association (NZOCGA) only had funds to send three, the fourth would be sent at the expense of the NZAAA.[7] So the Wellington branch of the NZAAA raised £120 for her, although the Otago branch could not raise £50 for Jack Lovelock.[6] In the Olympic semifinals of the 100 m race in Los Angeles she was third after 50 m but dropped back to sixth.[1][8] After the Olympics, she gained weight, which was also commented upon by the press,[9] and retired from track competition in 1933, at age 19.

Personal life

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Kench was born in Palmerston North, and moved to Whanganui.[10] She married John Henry "Jack" Irion in 1940.[11][12] They had two sons and two daughters, and lived in Wellington, where she died in 1985, aged 71 years.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Thelma Kench. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ Thelma Kench. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. ^ "Women Athletes Training Methods Revealed". Hawera Star. 16 April 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  4. ^ Hughes, Sid (12 July 1932). "Bang! And Girls Get Away". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. p. 3. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Babcock, Muriel (10 July 1932). "New Zealand Miss May Star". The Los Angeles Times. p. 62. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Peter Heidenstrom (1992). Athletes of the Century. GP Publications, Wellington. pp. 135–137. ISBN 1-86956-044-2.
  7. ^ "Going to Olympiad". Feilding Star. 14 June 1932. p. 7 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Miss Kench Fails". Thames Star. 3 August 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  9. ^ "Miss Kench's Position in Athletics". Hawera Star. 14 January 1933. p. 8. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  10. ^ "Miss Thelma Kench". The Sun. 21 March 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  11. ^ "Engagements". Evening Post. 28 February 1939. p. 18. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  12. ^ "Girl Athlete Weds; Former Olympic Runner". Evening Post. 9 February 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Papers Past.
  13. ^ "Irion, Thelma, 1914-1985". National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1914. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
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