Esther Brand

Esther Cornelia Brand (née van Heerden; 29 September 1922 – 20 June 2015) was a South African athlete. She competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in the high jump, placed 20th in the discus throw. She was the first African woman to win an Olympic track and field event. Brand was ranked world #1 in the high jump in 1940–41 and 1952, #3 in 1951 and #5 in 1939. In 1941 she equaled the world record of 1.66 m.[1]

Esther Brand

Esther Brand at the 1952 Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1922-09-29)29 September 1922 Springbok, Northern Cape, South Africa
Died	20 June 2015(2015-06-20) (aged 92) Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	High jump, discus throw
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	HJ – 1.67 m (1952) DT – 40.30 m(1952)[1][2]
Medal record Representing  South Africa Olympic Games 1952 Helsinki High jump

Born in Springbok, Northern Cape, she attended Maitland High School in Cape Town, South Africa.[1] She died after a fall in 2015.[3]