Unique Half Gold / Half Silver Olympic Medal On Display At Golf House


Aug. 6 , 2004
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org

Far Hills, N.J. - Thirteen kilos of pure gold, a ton of silver and another ton of bronze are now being transformed into medals that will be awarded at the 2004 Olympic Games, scheduled to begin in Athens in August. More than 16,000 athletes will compete for these coveted awards.

But the most unique Olympic medal ever awarded - half gold and half silver - is currently on display in the USGA Museum exhibit, "Let Me Play Again - Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Cancer, and the 1954 U.S. Women's Open."

Babe Zaharias, recognized as the greatest female athlete of the 20th century, won this one-of-a-kind medal for her controversial performance in the running high jump in the 1932 Olympic Games. The controversy was due to Babe's use of the "Western Roll" technique to clear the high jump bar. This method involves clearing the bar head first, rather than feet first, which was the accepted standard of the era.

The medal, which will remain on display through March 31, 2005, is part of an exhibit that tells the story of Zaharias' astonishing, multifaceted athletic career. Heralding her many golf achievements, the exhibit highlights Babe's victory in the 1954 U.S. Women's Open. This year marks the 50th anniversary of her heroic comeback from cancer to win the most prestigious championship in women's golf.

"There is perhaps no other athletic trophy or award that has earned the cachet of this half gold, half silver medal. We're fortunate to have had secured for the exhibit this and many other exceptional artifacts, photos, and films that chronicle Babe's extraordinary life and times," said Rand Jerris, director of the USGA Museum and Archives.

Participating in numerous sports in which she excelled and set several records, Zaharias was named Woman Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press six different times. No other athlete, male or female, received this honor as often. Zaharias mastered tennis, played organized baseball and softball, and was a three-time All-American basketball player. In track and field, Zaharias either held or tied the world record in four events, and held the American record in four events.

But Zaharias achieved her most extraordinary accomplishments in golf. She won every major professional championship at least once and once captured 13 consecutive amateur tournaments. She was also the first American to capture the Ladies British Open Amateur and the first to win both that title and the U.S. Women's Amateur. The 1954 Women's Open victory is even more extraordinary as Babe had been diagnosed with colon cancer, and had undergone radical surgery only 14 months prior to the championship.

The exhibit is open to the public without charge between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has served as the national governing body of golf since its formation in 1894. The USGA is a non-profit organization run by golfers for the benefit of golfers. The Association sponsors programs that benefit everyone who plays the game. These essential services affect all golfers, whether they are amateurs or professionals, public- or private-course players.

Founded in 1935, the USGA Museum is the oldest museum dedicated to sports in this country. The collection comprises more than 42,000 artifacts, 20,000 books, half a million photographs, and thousands of hours of historic film and video. These incredible assets were assembled during the past seven decades, largely by donations from individuals and corporations.

The United States Golf Association Museum is located at 77 Liberty Corner Road in Far Hills, N.J. Contact the Museum by calling 908-234-2300.

Directions to the Museum:

From I-287 Northbound
Proceed to Exit 26/Mt. Airy Road. At end of exit ramp, bear right and merge onto Mt. Airy Road. Proceed to traffic light. Turn right onto Lyons Road, then turn right onto Liberty Corner Road. Proceed 1.8 miles to USGA on left.

From I-287 Southbound
Take Exit 26/Mt. Airy Road. At end of exit ramp, bear left and proceed to first traffic light. Turn right onto Lyons Road, then turn right onto Liberty Corner Road. Proceed 1.8 miles to USGA on left.

From I-78: Eastbound
Take Exit 33 - Martinsville Road/Bernardsville. Turn left at end of exit ramp and proceed to fifth traffic light. Turn left onto Valley Road. Proceed one-third of a mile and turn left onto Liberty Corner Road. Proceed 1.8 miles to USGA on left.

From I-78: Westbound
Take Exit 33 - Martinsville Road/Bernardsville. Turn right at end of exit ramp and proceed to fourth traffic light. Turn left onto Valley Road. Proceed one-third of a mile and turn left onto Liberty Corner Road. Proceed 1.8 miles to USGA on left.