Athletics at the 1960 Roma Summer Games:

Since 1956 a series of athletes had equaled the 10.6 world record. These included Gisela Birkemeyer (thrice), runner-up in 1956, Norma Thrower, bronze medalist in 1956 and 1958 Commonwealth Games champion, Galina Bystrova, fourth in 1956, and by Irina Press in July 1960. Press was the world's best pentathlete, but that event was not on the Olympic program until 1964, so she specialized in the hurdles. She was also a top international sprinter and shot putter. All the favorites got to the final except Thrower, who missed out in the semi-final. Press won the final comfortably, establishing a lead at the first hurdle, and holding it throughout. The surprise silver medalist was Carole Quinton (GBR), who closed very quickly to edge out Birkemeyer-Köhler. Quinton had won the 1958 AAA Championship but had no other major palmares.