Hélène de Pourtalès was the primary girl to win an Olympic medal, crusing within the 1900 Olympics within the 1-2 Ton class. She was one in all three crew aboard the boat Lérina, alongside her husband and nephew. Lérina sailed in two races that had been scored and awarded individually, receiving gold within the first race and silver within the second.
Pourtales was born Hélène Barbey in 1868 to Isaac and Mary Barbey in New York. Her father was an prosperous Swiss banker and her mom got here from the Lolliard household, which owned Lorillard Tobacco Firm. Isaac Barbey took his household to Bellevue, Switzerland, to spend their summers, the place Hélène would spend her day’s yachting. She held twin citizenship between america and Switzerland, which in the end allowed her to sail for Switzerland within the Olympics, regardless of being born in America. Her uncle, Pierre Lorillard IV, is credited with serving to to make Newport a yachting heart as he introduced his schooner Vesta and steam yacht Radha.
At 23, Hélène Barbey married Swiss sailor Hermann Alexander, Depend von Pourtalès. The couple sailed collectively in regattas on Lake Geneva and round Cannes. In 1900, they registered for the Olympic video games. Hélène was 32 on the time.
The 1900 Olympics had been the second iteration of the trendy summer season Olympics. They had been held in Paris as part of the 1900 World’s Honest and allowed feminine athletes to compete for the primary time. 5 occasions—golf, tennis, crusing, croquet and equestrian—had been open to ladies. Hélène was each the primary girl to compete within the Olympics and the primary girl to obtain a gold medal.
March 2022
