Early Start
She acquired the nickname "Babe" (after Babe Ruth) by hitting five home runs in a childhood baseball game.
Key Achievements
- Won two gold medals and a silver in track and field at the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Set four world records in the 1932 Olympics
- Won 82 golf tournaments, including 41 on the LPGA Tour
- First American woman to win the U.S. Women's Amateur and the British Ladies Amateur
- Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021
Why They Inspire Us
Babe Didrikson Zaharias is a great role model for kids because she showed that with hard work and determination, you can excel in anything you set your mind to, breaking barriers and setting new standards for female athletes.