On August 30TH we are celebrating Bobbie Rosenfeld…
THE OLYMPIAN WHO COULD DO EVERYTHING
Who would have known that, about twenty years after Second Story Press published Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything, the story would continue to the present day? In the last couple of months, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to various groups about Bobbie (Fanny) and her achievements—both as an outstanding athlete and a celebrated journalist for Toronto’s Globe and Mail.
Why this sudden interest? As you may know, Bobbie’s family emigrated from Russia to Barrie, Ontario in the early part of the twentieth century. She grew up in Barrie before moving to Toronto, where she spent the rest of her life. Local Barrie resident and playwright, Trudee Romanek, has written a fascinating play about Bobbie’s family and her early life in Barrie. The play Bobbie will be presented by the Theatre by the Bay in Barrie from August 30 to September 10, 2023.
I love speaking to people about Bobbie because I keep discovering new and fascinating facts about her life and career. For example, Trudee showed me photos of 21 Collier Street, where Bobbie and her family lived in Barrie. Joshua Berman, Bobbie’s grandnephew, sent me photos of Bobbie’s actual gold and silver medals, which she won at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. And Rochelle Thompson, Bobbie’s niece, told me that Bobbie used to dye her hair red. And so the journey continues!
I’m looking forward to participating in a panel discussion on September 2 after the matinée performance of Bobbie. I’m sure I’ll learn more wonderful facts about Bobbie from the other panelists: Trudee, Rochelle, and Bruce Kidd (track star and sports historian).
“Bobbie celebrates Fanny Rosenfeld’s incredible achievements—numerous world records, two Olympic medals, Canada’s Female Athlete of the Half Century—while shining a light on the obstacles she faced in the 1920s as a female, a Jew, and an immigrant, obstacles that, sadly, are still present today.
“I hope what I, director Lynn Weintraub, and the whole Bobbie team have created illustrates that we’re all more the same than we are different and returns the story of Bobbie Rosenfeld to prominence.”
The city of Barrie has proclaimed August 30 as Bobbie Rosenfeld Day. I hope you’ll celebrate the life and work of this amazing athlete and “mensch.”
The Theatre by the Bay’s theme this season is “shattering ceilings.” Without a doubt, Bobbie Rosenfeld helped to shatter the ceiling of women’s sports!
Click here for more information about the play
Click here to watch the trailer
Learn more about Anne’s book about Bobbie:
