Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Hello! My name is Mildred, but everyone calls me Babe. I was born in a town called Port Arthur, Texas, way back on June 26th, 1911. When I was a kid, I loved to run, jump, and play every sport I could. I had so much energy. One day, during a baseball game, I did something amazing—I hit five home runs! Everyone started calling me 'Babe' because they said I was just like the famous baseball player Babe Ruth. I didn't mind the new name. I just wanted to keep playing games and having fun!

I practiced and practiced all the time, and by 1932, I was ready for the biggest sports competition in the world: the Olympic Games in Los Angeles! I was so excited to show everyone what I could do. I was good enough to compete in five different track and field events, but the rules back then said I could only choose three. It was a tough choice, but I picked the javelin throw, the 80-meter hurdles, and the high jump. I threw the javelin farther than anyone, ran the hurdles faster than anyone, and jumped almost the highest! I went home with two gold medals and one silver medal. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

After the Olympics, I needed a new challenge, so I decided to try golf. At first, it was tricky, but I worked hard every single day to get better. Around that time, I met a wrestler named George Zaharias, and we got married in 1938. He was my biggest fan and always cheered for me! Soon, all my hard work paid off, and I became one of the best women golfers in the world. But there weren't many chances for women to play golf for a living. So, in 1950, I helped start a special group just for women golfers called the Ladies Professional Golf Association, or the LPGA. It gave women like me a chance to show how great they could be.

I played sports my whole life and showed everyone that women could be strong, fast, and amazing athletes. I got sick later in my life and lived to be 45 years old. Even after I was gone, people remembered me for my energy and for never giving up. The LPGA is still around today, helping women golfers achieve their dreams. I hope my story inspires you to go outside, play your favorite game, and always try your very best, no matter what.