Mary, whom the national press called “Little Medford Miss” and “Uncle Sam’s Sweetheart”, qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the 4x100 relay and it was off to Los Angeles for the start of the 1932 Summer Olympics.

At the Olympics, Mary was selected to run the leadoff leg of the relay and the Americans captured the gold medal and in the process set a new world record (46.9). Canada finished second and Great Britain third.

Mary was so popular with her teammates that she was chosen to stand on the victory podium and receive the gold medal before over 100,000 cheering fans.