Velma Springstead (22 August 1906 – 27 March 1927) was a Canadian track and field athlete. Springstead won the gold medal in high jump during the 1925 Canadian Track and Field Championships and became a member of the first women's track and field team of Canada to compete internationally. After her death, Springstead was posthumously honoured with the creation of the

Velma Springstead Trophy The Velma Springstead Trophy is an award presented annually to Canada's outstanding female athlete. It is named in honour of track athlete Velma Springstead whose career ended prematurely when she died from pneumonia in 1927 when only 20 years old. ...

and was inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Early life and education

Springstead was born on 22 August 1906 in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Hamilton has a population of 569,353, and its census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and Grimsby, has a population of 785,184. The city is approximately southwest of T ...

Career

In July 1925, Springstead participated in a track and field qualification held at Varsity Stadium for the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. Her performance earned her a spot on the first women's track and field team of Canada to compete in an international event. The following month, Springstead was third in the high jump event alongside a fourth place finish in the hurdles event at a 1925 track and field meet in London, England. After the meet, Springstead was presented a trophy by Lord Decies for her courage. The same year, Springstead won gold at the 1925 Canadian Track and Field Championships in the high jump event. Outside of her athletic career, Springstead worked for

Calvin Presbyterian Church Calvin Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in the Deer Park area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The church building is located at 26 Delisle Avenue, close to Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue. History The congreg ...

as a teacher and was a secretary for Tuckett Tobacco Company.

Death

On 27 March 1927, Springstead died of pneumonia in Hamilton, Ontario.

Awards and honours

After her death, the

was created to award the best Canadian sportswoman of the year. In 2011, Springstead was posthumously inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Springstead, Velma 1906 births 1927 deaths Canadian female high jumpers Deaths from pneumonia in Ontario Athletes from Hamilton, Ontario