Hilda Gwendolyn Strike (later Sisson, September 1, 1910 – March 9, 1989) was a Canadian track athlete and Olympic medalist. She was born in Montreal and died in Ottawa.

Hilda Strike
Personal information
Full nameHilda Gwendolyn Strike
Born(1910-09-01)September 1, 1910
Montreal, Quebec
DiedMarch 9, 1989(1989-03-09) (aged 78)
Ottawa, Ontario
Sport
EventTrack and field
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals1932 Summer Olympics
Medal record
Women's athletics

Competitor for Canada Canada

Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1932 Los Angeles 100 metres
Silver medal – second place 1932 Los Angeles 4×100m relay
British Empire Games
Silver medal – second place 1934 London 100 yd
Silver medal – second place 1934 London 3×110/220 yd

Competing in the 1932 Summer Olympics, she won a silver medal in the 4×100 metre relay and a silver medal in the 100 metre losing to Stanisława Walasiewicz. At the end of the year, she was named Canada's outstanding female athlete of the year by The Canadian Press.[1] In 1972, she was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

When Walasiewicz was shot to death in 1980 during a store robbery, it was discovered that Walasiewicz had an intersex condition. Many subsequently argued that the gold medal should be given to Strike.

At the 1934 Empire Games she won the silver medal in the 100 yards event. She also was a member of the Canadian relay team which won the silver medal in the 110-220-110 yards relay competition.

References

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  • 1932 'injustice' never corrected: A Canadian Olympic sprinter lost the gold to a woman, who later turned out to be a man. David Reevely reports.; [Final Edition] David Reevely. The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Feb 17, 2002. pg. A.3
  • Sisson never demanded gold medal; The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: Mar 11, 1989. pg. F.5
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References

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  1. ^ "Miss Strike voted foremost athlete". Montreal Gazette. 1932-12-31. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-12-16.