Esther Cornelia Brand was a South African athlete. She competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in the high jump, placed 20th in the discus throw. She was the first African woman to win an Olympic track and field event. Brand was ranked world #1 in the high jump in 1940–41 and 1952, #3 in 1951 and #5 in 1939. In 1941 she equaled the world record of 1.66 m. Esther van Heerden set the women's high jump world record of 1.66 m in Stellenbosch on March 29, 1941. It stood 4 months, until Ilsebill Pfenning's 1.66 m on July 27, 1941 (equalling it). Wiki link