Celebrating the life of Mary Rand by Freya John
“Mary was the most gifted athlete I ever saw. She was as good as athletes get, there has never been anything like her since. And I don’t believe there ever will.”
Last Friday, former long jump world record holder and British legend Mary Rand sadly passed away aged 86.
Recognising Mary Rand’s achievements
Considered one of Britain’s best athletes of all time, Rand consolidated this reputation at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo where she put on one of the most impressive displays of sporting prowess and talent in the history of athletics.
In the final of the women’s long jump, she leapt 6.76m, breaking the world record and taking the gold medal. At the same Olympics, she won silver in the pentathlon and then proceeded to top off her shiny, new collection with a bronze medal in the 4 x 100m relay. She became the first British sportswoman to win three medals at the same Olympics, a number only ever equalled by the cyclist Emma Finucane at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Mary Rand’s path to the track
Rand was born in Somerset in 1940 and attended Millfield school on a sports scholarship, from which she was later expelled. Aged just 17, she set a British record in the Pentathlon.
At the Commonwealth games in Cardiff in 1958, Rand made her first international appearance, winning a silver medal in the long jump and finishing fifth in the high jump.
The decorated and remarkable athlete won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1964, and the following year was appointed an MBE.
Mary Rand’s legacy
Rand’s legacy and achievements are massively inspirational for anyone. At a time when athletics was an amateur sport for both men and women, the athlete made a living by working in the postal office at the Guinness factory in London.
Her teammate Ann Packer has said that she believes there will never be anyone like Rand and whilst this may be true, all aspiring women in athletics should look up to Rand, learn from her and be truly influenced and motivated by her athletic mastery and outstanding accomplishments.
Thumbnail image Eric Kock for Anefo
Copyright We are Girls in Sport 2026 - please contact for use.