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]

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

Athletic career

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

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

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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