 Because of the strict amateurism rules in force at the time, she had to turn most offers down.However, in 1949, she travelled abroad to promote women's athletics, flying to Australia and the United States.Blankers-Koen had been chosen the 1948 Helms Athletic Foundation World Trophy Winner for Europe, and in 1949 she traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the Los Angeles Coliseum Relays.