Kitty O’Neil: Interesting Facts about American stuntwoman and the fastest woman in the world

Google, the renowned search engine giant, unveiled a captivating Google Doodle commemorating the 77th birthday of Kitty Linn O’Neil, an extraordinary American stuntwoman and racer known as “the fastest woman in the world.” Discover the fascinating and incredible trivia about Kitty O’Neil here.

Who was Kitty O’Neil?

Quick facts about Kitty O’Neil

Birth date: March 24, 1946
Birthplace: Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Died on: November 2, 2018 (aged 72)
Death place: Eureka, South Dakota, U.S.
Father name: John R. O’Neil
Mother name: Patsy Linn Compton
Famous as: Stuntwoman, race car driver

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16 Interesting Facts about Kitty O’Neil

1. Kitty O’Neil was born in Nueces, Texas, USA, on March 24, 1946. Her father, John R. O’Neil, was Irish, and her mother, Patsy Linn Compton, was a Cherokee Native American. Sadly, her father passed away in a plane crash shortly after her birth.
2. At five months old, Kitty contracted measles, mumps, and smallpox simultaneously, resulting in her losing her hearing.
3. To ensure Kitty received an education, her mother, Patsy, took education courses at The University of Texas and taught Kitty to speak through lip reading. Kitty became proficient in speech and lip reading, thanks to her mother’s dedication.
4. Despite her hearing impairment, Kitty enrolled in a regular third-grade public school at the age of eight. Her mother also established The Listening Eyes School for the Deaf in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she taught deaf children and helped Kitty develop her musical talents, including playing the cello.
5. Kitty’s interest in diving sparked at the age of twelve when she began swimming. In her first diving competition, she won the first-place medal as a substitute for an absent diver. Six months later, she secured victory at the AAU Southwest District Junior meet.
6. After her diving success, Kitty received attention from Sammy Lee, a two-time Olympic diving champion. Her family relocated to Anaheim, California, in 1962, to allow her to train with Sammy Lee, a renowned diving coach.
7. Kitty’s dedication and training paid off as she accumulated more than 30 blue ribbons, numerous first-place trophies, and gold medals in diving. She even competed in the women’s 10-meter diving championship and the U.S. team trials for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
8. Unfortunately, Kitty’s diving career abruptly ended due to a wrist injury and subsequent spinal meningitis. Despite the possibility of losing the use of her legs, she persevered and embarked on high-speed water skiing, driven by her love for speed and competition. In 1970, she set the official women’s water ski speed record at 104.85 miles per hour.
9. Kitty’s passion for speed led her to explore automobile racing and cross-country motorcycle racing. Her involvement in the latter introduced her to fellow racer Duffy Hambleton, who played a significant role in her life, including saving her fingers during a motorcycle accident.
10. With Duffy’s support, Kitty overcame her injuries and continued to pursue her interests. She became the first woman to join Stunts Unlimited, an esteemed group of Hollywood’s top stunt performers.
11. In December 1976, Kitty shattered the world land speed record for women by surpassing 200 miles per hour over the previous record. She achieved this remarkable feat while driving The Motivator, a rocket-powered vehicle with 48,000 horsepower.
12. In 1977, Kitty obtained a professional license from the Fédération Internationale Motorcycliste, making her the sole qualified woman for international motorcycle competition at the time.
13. Kitty O’Neil’s extraordinary stunt career included memorable feats such as tipping over a burning van, enduring a fiery fall from a parking garage parapet, and performing stunts in numerous films and TV shows, including The Bionic Woman, Airport 77, The Blues Brothers, and Smokey and the Bandit II.
14. Kitty retired in 1986 and settled in Eureka, South Dakota, in 1993, with her longtime companion, Raymond Waid. Despite not being personally affected by breast cancer, Kitty actively supported the American Cancer Society’s efforts to combat the disease, encouraging regular mammograms for women over forty.
15. Kitty O’Neil’s remarkable achievements in water skiing and land speed racing earned her numerous records and accolades. She passed away at the age of 72 on November 2, 2018, in Eureka, South Dakota. In 2019, she was honored with the Oscars in Memoriam award.
16. Throughout her life, Kitty left an indelible mark on the world of stunts and inspired many with her fearlessness, determination, and resilience. On March 24, 2023, Google celebrated her 77th birthday with a dedicated Google Doodle, paying tribute to her extraordinary life.

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