Meet Kitty O’Neil: The Fastest Woman Alive 
Kitty O’Neil was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1947. As a
child, she suffered from measles, mumps, and smallpox, which caused her to
become deaf. Despite this challenge, Kitty was a determined and ambitious child
who refused to let her disability define her.
In the 1970s, Kitty began to make a name for herself in the
world of stunt work. She quickly gained a reputation for her fearlessness and
ability to perform dangerous stunts with ease. In fact, she became so skilled
that she was hired to perform stunts for some of Hollywood's biggest movies,
including Smokey and the Bandit II, The Blues Brothers, and The Bionic Woman.
But Kitty's greatest achievement came in 1976 when she became
the fastest woman alive. She set the women's land-speed record by driving a
rocket-powered car at a speed of 512 miles per hour. The record still stands
today, making Kitty one of the most legendary female athletes in history.
Kitty's success as a stuntwoman and land-speed record holder
inspired a generation of young girls to pursue their dreams, regardless of
their disability or gender. She was a true trailblazer who shattered
stereotypes and proved that anything is possible with hard work and
determination.
Unfortunately, Kitty
passed away in 2018 at the age of 72. But her legacy lives on as an inspiration
to people everywhere who refuse to let their limitations hold them back. Her
story is a reminder that, with a little bit of courage and a lot of grit, we
can achieve greatness and make our dreams a reality
Kitty's journey to becoming a stuntwoman was not an easy one. Despite her
natural athleticism, she faced many obstacles along the way. At the age of 16,
she moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in modeling and acting. But despite
her good looks and talent, she quickly discovered that the entertainment
industry was not welcoming to deaf people.
Determined to find a way to break into the industry, Kitty began
training as a stuntwoman. She quickly realized that her disability could
actually work to her advantage. Because she couldn't hear, she was able to
focus completely on the physical aspects of the job and didn't get distracted
by the noise and chaos of the set.
Kitty's first big break came when she was hired as a stunt
double for actress Linda Blair in the movie The Exorcist. From there, she went
on to work on numerous movies and TV shows, including Wonder Woman, The Six
Million Dollar Man, and Starsky and Hutch.
But it was her record-breaking achievement in 1976 that truly
put Kitty on the map. She was invited to drive the rocket-powered vehicle
called the "SMI Motivator" in the Alvord Desert in Oregon. With the
help of her team, Kitty made two successful runs, with her final speed of 512
mph setting the new women's land-speed record. She even reached a speed of 618
mph during one of her runs, which is still the fastest speed ever recorded by a
woman in a four-wheeled vehicle.
Kitty's remarkable
achievements earned her many accolades throughout her life. She was inducted
into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2003, and the International
Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018. Her life and legacy continue to inspire
people all over the world, and she remains an icon of strength, courage, and
determination
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