Updated M/W/F
 
Latest Profile
» Gary Gulman
Random Profile
» Surprise Me!
Archive Profile
» Judith Light
 
Categories
  • Actors
  • Actresses
  • Artists
  • Athletes and Coaches
  • Businesspeople
  • Comedians
  • Directors
  • Fictional Characters
  • Historical Figures
  • Media
  • Musicians and Singers
  • Politicians
  • Religious Figures
  • Scientists
  • Sociopaths
  • Writers
  • [Uncategorized]


  •  
    List by Name
    List by Score
    List by Date
     
    About the Jew Score
    Suggestion Box
    FAQ
    Irena Szewinska

    Jew Score:
    11

    I4

    O2

    K5
    (Irena Kirszenstein)
    May 24, 1946 – June 29, 2018

    So, there is a new fastest man in the world. His name is Usain Bolt, he is Jamaican, and no, he is not a Jew. However, hearing of the record, we asked ourselves the question... (everyone!)

    Has the fastest man in the world ever been a Jew?

    And... no. We checked everyone from Don Lippincott to Asafa Powell. Not a single Jew there. (Harold Abrahams, the gold medalist in 100 meters at the 1924 Olympics, never held the world record.) We were about to give up, until a new question arose... (everyone!)

    Has the fastest WOMAN in the world ever been a Jew?

    And here, we have an emphatic YES. Poland's Irena Szewinska, who ran for the record in 1965, actually set it under her maiden name, Irena Kirszenstein.

    And is it turns out, Kirszenstein-Szewinska is one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in history. She's won seven Olympic medals, including three golds, and held or shared the fastest woman title for three years.

    Now, the title of fastest man seems to change hands every year (whoosh! there it goes!). But the fastest woman's mark has stood since 1988, which sounds about 20 years too long to us. Time for a young Jewish girl to run in Irena's oh-so-fast footsteps.

    Verdict: Jew.

    June 3, 2008

    See Also

    Harold Abrahams

    Faina Melnik

    Lon Myers

    Tamara and Irina Press

    Bobbie Rosenfeld
    © Jew or Not Jew, 2006-2024.