Northern Ireland will forever remember Thelma Hopkins, a trailblazing athlete whose achievements redefined excellence across multiple sports.
One of the greatest athletes to represent Northern Ireland, Thelma Hopkins passed away at the age of 88 in Edmonton, Canada, on January 10.
Hopkins, a trailblazer in athletics and a versatile sportswoman, left behind a legacy of unparalleled achievements that spanned high jump, hockey, squash, and beyond.
Born in Kingston Upon Hull in 1936, Hopkins moved to Belfast with her family as a baby and quickly emerged as a prodigious talent in multiple disciplines.
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Her exceptional skills earned her a place in the Great Britain Olympic team at just 16, where she finished an impressive fourth in the high jump at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Reflecting on her remarkable career, the iconic Lady Mary Peters, who competed alongside Hopkins as a young athlete, described her as “a wonderful athlete” and “an inspiration.”
Peters recalled witnessing Hopkins’ groundbreaking world record at Belfast’s Cherryvale Park in 1956: “Thelma was my inspiration as a schoolgirl. I competed in the high jump when she broke the world record. She was simply phenomenal.”
On May 5, 1956, Hopkins made history by becoming the first athlete to break a world record in Ireland.
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At an intervarsity competition at Cherryvale Playing Fields, she soared to 1.74 meters, surpassing the previous mark set by Aleksandra Chudina of the USSR.
That monumental leap was later commemorated with a plaque at the site, unveiled in 2006, where Hopkins expressed her gratitude: “Breaking the record was a huge highlight for me.”
Hopkins’ illustrious career included a gold medal in the high jump and a silver in the long jump at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, followed by a high jump gold at the European Championships in Bern later that year.
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In 1956, she capped off her career-defining season by clinching an Olympic silver medal in Melbourne, becoming the first Northern Ireland woman to earn an Olympic medal.
She narrowly missed out on gold, finishing behind American Mildred McDaniel’s world-record performance.
Her talent was not confined to athletics as Hopkins represented Ireland in hockey, earning 42 caps and scoring an astounding 90 goals in one season. She also excelled in squash, further showcasing her versatility and determination.
A Queen’s University graduate, Hopkins benefited from the coaching of Austrian Franz Stampfl, famed for guiding Roger Bannister to his sub-four-minute mile.
Her disciplined approach and dedication inspired generations of athletes, including Peters, who would later win Olympic gold herself in 1972.
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In 1966, Hopkins emigrated to Canada, where she continued to live a fulfilling life. Despite her relocation, she maintained deep ties to her roots in Northern Ireland.
Her return to Belfast in 2006 for the plaque unveiling highlighted her enduring connection to the place where she achieved sporting immortality.
Tributes poured in for Hopkins following her passing, with many recognizing her unparalleled contributions to sports.
Beyond her accolades, she is remembered as a pioneer who shattered records and inspired countless others to dream big.