Let’s Delve into the Archive and discover the history of this women’s athletic vest from the 1934 British Empire Games, and the significance for women’s athletics at the competition this vest would have been worn.
This silk athletics vest includes the England rose crest to the centre. Vests such as these would have had badges sewn onto them. Athletes often used the same vest and attached a new badge for each competition that season. It serves as a tangible connection to an event which changed the shape of women’s athletics.
The 1934 British Empire Games were held in London and saw a total of six sports featured in the games, which were athletics, boxing, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and diving and wrestling. As well as the 11 nations who had competed at the first ever British Empire Games, in Hamilton, Ontario in 1930. These games saw Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Trinidad and Zimbabwe all make their debut in London, at what is now the Commonwealth Games. These 16 nations sent a total of 500 competitors to London, it incorporated 68 different events, which included athletics.
What made these Games so memorable is that they were the first to include events for women in athletics. Although consideration was given to which events and not to include events which were considered ‘too exhaustive’ for them. This saw the running events restricted to the short sprints and a shortened relay of 4 x 220 yard relay instead of the 4 x 440 yard relay in the men’s program.
However, it can still be considered as a breakthrough for women’s sport, which would one day lead to full inclusion of women’s athletics on the international stage.
This vest belonged to Muriel Cornell, former long jump world record holder and an integral member of the Women’s Amateur Athletic Association (WAAA). Although Cornell did not compete in 1934 due to an injury, she was Honorary Secretary of the WAAA from 1934-1945 and her role included organising the women’s events at the British Empire Games staged in London in 1934. Cornell was the first women to be elected to what would become the British Amateur Athletic Board (BAAB) and the first WAAA member on the British Olympic Association Council.
You can find out more about Muriel Cornell’s story by clicking the link.