Margaret Jenkins was Santa Clara County’s first female Olympian.  She competed in the discus at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, the first two Games to include women.  In 1928, the javelin was not included in women’s Olympic competition, but it was Jenkins’ true talent: she set the world record in San Jose with a throw of 129 feet, 1 ½ inches.  Jenkins was also exceptionally accomplished in track, tennis and volleyball.  Plus, she had her pilot’s license, was a Naval officer in WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), and became a founding member of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Committee. A graduate of Santa Clara High and San Jose Teachers College, Jenkins taught in the Santa Clara school district for 31 years.

Jenkins was inducted posthumously into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.