Voting Station

Stella Walsh

Please vote to return to collections.

Athlete

The Resume

    (April 3, 1911-December 4, 1980)
    Birth name was Stanislawa Walasiewicz
    Won the Olympic gold medal in the women's 100 meters (1932)
    Inducted into the US Track and Field Hall of Fame (1975)
    Died when shot as a bystander during a convenience store robbery

Why she might be annoying:

    Although she had lived in the US since infancy, she represented Poland at the Olympics.
    When Helena Stephens defeated Walsh to win the gold medal at the Berlin Olympics, Polish journalists accused Stephens of being a man in disguise. Stephens had to submit to an examination by female officials. (1936)
    At her autopsy, Walsh was discovered to have male genitalia and both male and female chromosomes.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Her decision to run for Poland was made for financial reasons and highlighted the consequences of the lack of support for women's athletics in the US.
    She was named Poland's most popular athlete four times. (1930,32-34)
    She funded programs for Polish athletes living in America.
    At the time of her murder, she was buying streamers for a reception for the Polish national basketball team.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 31 Votes: 64.52% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 55 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 101 Votes: 45.54% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 106 Votes: 50.0% Annoying