20 Iconic Athletes That Were Unfortunately Made of Glass

Maureen Connolly

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Connolly dominated women’s tennis during a playing career which only lasted from 1951-1954. At the 1951 U.S. Championships, Connolly became the youngest ever winner when she defeated Shirley Fry at the age of 16. She went on to have one of the greatest four-year runs — man or woman — in the history of the sport.

By 1952, she was the top-ranked player in the world…and hadn’t even turned professional yet. By the end of her run, Connolly had won nine Grand Slam titles — including three consecutive victories at Wimbledon. Just two weeks after her third Wimbledon title, Connolly suffered an accident while horseback riding in her hometown of San Diego. The injury she sustained to her fibula effectively ended her career at just 19 years of age.