Ella Maillart (1903 - 1997) is remembered chiefly as a writer, journalist and photographer, but she was also a successful sportswoman. She was born in Geneva of Swiss and Danish parentage.

She travelled extensively in little-explored parts of the world, including the new Soviet Union. She crossed the Caucasus and Central Asia and trekked across the desert regions of north-west China.

An eager sailor and skier, Maillart sailed for Switzerland in the 1924 Paris Olympics and became captain of Switzerland's women's grass hockey team.