Claudette I. Humphrey

The first female Olympian from Guyana (then British Guiana) is
Claudette Izel Humphrey (nee Masdammer). Born in March, 1936, she attended the St. Georges Anglican School and later the Tutorial High school where her athletic abilities were recognized by the school founders, the Castello Brothers.

Claudette represented her country at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne Australia. Although, she did not qualify for the finals, her achievements were still acknowledged by her school mates.

‘At the `56 Games no other female West Indian athlete attended/qualified for the premium sprinting events. Claudette attended the 1958 Commonwealth Federation Games and participated in the 100 and 200 meters races. She was eliminated in the heats with personal bests of 11.8 secs. in the 100 meters, and 24.0 secs. in the 200 meters . At the British West Indian Championship held in Guyana in 1959, Claudette was awarded a Bronze Medal for competing in the 100 meters and Silver in the long jump’.