Olga Fikotova Connolly, who won a gold medal in track and field for Czechoslovakia in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, watched Harold Connolly of the United States win one the next day, and, in March 1957, married him as the highlight of a storybook Cold War romance, died on April 12 in Costa Mesa, Calif. She was 91.
She died in her son Jim’s home, where she had been receiving hospice care, Ms. Connolly-Freund said.
The governing body European Athletics said Olga Connolly had been the last living female gold medalist from the Melbourne Games.
Her competitive record as a discus thrower was exceptional: five Olympic Games (four representing the United States as an American citizen), five American championships and four American records.
Harold Connolly, a hammer thrower from Massachusetts, competed in four Olympics.
Persons:
Olga Fikotova Connolly, Harold Connolly, Merja Connolly, Freund, Jim’s, Connolly, Olga Connolly
Organizations:
Czechoslovakia, United States, Melbourne Games, Olympic Games
Locations:
Costa Mesa, Calif, United States, American, Massachusetts