Olympic record : 2 gold medals . In fact , Balas had the perfect build for the pre-Fosbury era . - The first time a woman won the individual event in an Olympics was at the 1912 Games when Olga Korbut of Russia took silver and Helene Weigel of Germany won bronze. her long legs were ideally suited to the `` scissors '' style favored by athletes . High Jumper ; born December 12 , 1936 , in Timosoara , Romania .
Olympic record : 2 gold medals . - The first time a woman won the individual event in an Olympics was at the 1912 Games when Olga Korbut of Russia took silver and Helene Weigel of Germany won bronze. her long legs were ideally suited to the `` scissors '' style favored by athletes . High Jumper ; born December 12 , 1936 , in Timosoara , Romania .