Mary Glen-Haig

Dame Mary Alison Glen-Haig, (née James; 12 July 1918 – 15 November 2014) was a British fencer who competed in four Olympic games in 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1960. She was born in London, the daughter of William James, a fencer at the 1908 London Olympics. She began competing professionally in 1937 and continued until 1960, during which time she won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and competed in four Olympics in the women's individual foil events. She was one of the first female members of the International Olympic Committee in 1982 and was created a dame in 1993. After London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics in 2005, she was active as the host nation's ambassador to the games.

Early life Glen-Haig was born Mary Alison James on 12 July 1918 in London. Her father, William James, was a competitor in fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. Her brother and sister took up tennis, like their mother. Her interest in fencing arose from time spent with her father, and she often trained and practised with him.

She began participating in regional and world championships in 1937 and continued to be active in these tournaments until 1959. She first qualified for the Olympic Games in 1948, the second time that they were held in her hometown of London. The evening before she was to participate in these games, she was still working at King's College Hospital, as there was no true Olympic Village at these games.

Later life Glen-Haig eventually moved to West Kensington, London, where she worked at a hospital as district administrator from 1974 until 1982, the year that she was made one of the first female members of the International Olympic Committee. She was an honorary member of the IOC. promoted to Commander (CBE) in the 1977 New Year Honours, and Dame Commander (DBE) in the 1993 New Year Honours. At the conclusion of the 2004 Summer Olympics, Glen-Haig recited the English version of an ode in praise of Athens. She served as the ambassador from Britain to the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was held in London. She died at the age of 96 on 15 November 2014.