Google Doodle Honours Deaf Daredevil And Stunt Woman Kitty O'Neil

Today on March 24, 2023, Google is honouring Kitty O'Neil, a legendary American stunt performer, daredevil, and driver of rocket-powered vehicles on her birthday anniversary.

O'Neil was born deaf, but that didn't stop her from following her aspirations. Meeya Tjiang, a deaf guest artist from Washington, DC, created the artwork for today's doodle.

In the early 1970s, Kitty O'Neil began her career as a stuntwoman, working on films such as The Blues Brothers, Airport 1975, Smokey and The Bandit II, and Wonder Woman. She also worked as a stunt double for Lindsay Wagner and Farrah Fawcett. O'Neil was also a fantastic racer.

Who is Kitty O'Neil?

• Kitty O'Neil, an American stuntwoman and racer born in 1946, is renowned for her ground-breaking accomplishments in a male-dominated field.
• In 1976, she set a women's land-speed record of 512 miles per hour, which she still retains today. She was also a boat racer and a test driver for automakers.
• O'Neil was born to a Native American Cherokee mother, and her father was Irish. She is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas.
• Kitty O'Neil was a few months old when she caught numerous infections, resulting in a severe fever that rendered her deaf forever.
• During her life, O'Neil was proficient in numerous modalities of communication and adapted to varied audiences. She eventually favoured speaking and lip reading.
• O'Neil enjoyed diving, but was unable to do so owing to a wrist injury. However, she never gave up on her ambition of becoming a professional athlete. She dabbled with high-speed activities such as water skiing and motorbike racing.
• Kitty O'Neil enjoyed daring feats such as leaping out of helicopters, and in the late 1970s, she appeared on the big screen as a stunt double for films and TV shows.
• In 1979, the film Silent Victory: The Kitty O'Neil Story, which recounted the incredible Alvord Desert feat of the lady known as the 'world's fastest woman,' was released. After accomplishing this feat, it was obvious that O'Neil could likely beat the men's mark as well; however, despite a legal battle, she was never given that opportunity.

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