Mary Rand, an Olympic gold medalist who served as a trailblazer for female athletes in Britain, has passed away at the age of 86.
At the Tokyo Games in 1964, Rand won three medals, including gold in the long jump, making her Britain’s first female Olympic gold medalist in athletics. She also earned a silver in the pentathlon and a bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Fellow Olympians Remember Mary Rand
Mary Peters, who won a gold medal in the pentathlon at the 1972 Games as well as being one of Rand’s roommates in Tokyo, shared a heartfelt tribute to the runner.
“She was the golden girl of her era and the most gifted athlete I ever saw,” Peters told The Guardian. “She worked hard and played hard, and she was a very talented all-around athlete. She could swim, she could she could play netball, she was a hockey player. And if you put her on the trampoline she would do front and back flips.
“I even went with her to dart tournaments once at Crystal Palace, and whoever threw the first bullseye won a free set of golden darts. Naturally she got a bullseye with her first dart.”
She also shared a memory of their time as roommates.
“There were four of us in the room, and we were all competing on different days, and all nervous and apprehensive,” Peters added. “And so Mary used to sing lullabies to us that she sang to her daughter, Alison, and that’s how we got to sleep at night before our competition.”
Another one of their roommates, Ann Packer, was very complimentary of the beloved Olympian.
“Mary was the most gifted athlete I ever saw,” she said (per British Athletics). “She was as good as athletes get; there has never been anything like her since. And I don’t believe there ever will be.”
Fans Pay Tribute To Mary Rand
Getty“Sad to hear of Mary Rand’s passing at 86. She was a true pioneer—the first British woman to win Olympic gold in track and field with her world-record long jump at Tokyo 1964—and inspired so many with her incredible achievements. Her legacy in British athletics will live on,” one person commented on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“A legend that will forever be etched in history,” another person shared.
“I remember watching Mary Rand winning that gold medal – I was only a young school girl and we were all so excited that Mary won,” someone wrote.
