Germany honours Jewish athlete banned in 1936
Nov 25, 2009 19:48:03 GMT
Post by lagatta on Nov 25, 2009 19:48:03 GMT
Yes, high-jumper Gretel Bergmann (now Margaret Lambert) is not only still alive but looks very well for 95!
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/24/gretel-bergmann-jewish-athlete-germany
"Germany today honoured a high jumper expelled from the national team by the Nazis a month before the 1936 Berlin Olympics because she was Jewish.
Gretel Bergmann matched a German high jump record of 5ft 3in (1.60 metres) in Stuttgart on 30 June 1936. Two weeks later, her feat was expunged from the record books and she was kicked out of the team.
Now the German authorities are making amends to the 95-year-old, who emigrated to the US in 1937 and changed her name to Margaret Lambert.
The country's track and field association has restored her achievement to the record books, calling the decision an "act of justice and a symbolic gesture" but admitting it could "in no way make up" for the past. The association also requested that she be included in Germany sport's hall of fame".
At least, like Jesse Owens, she never had to shake Hitler's hand.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/24/gretel-bergmann-jewish-athlete-germany
"Germany today honoured a high jumper expelled from the national team by the Nazis a month before the 1936 Berlin Olympics because she was Jewish.
Gretel Bergmann matched a German high jump record of 5ft 3in (1.60 metres) in Stuttgart on 30 June 1936. Two weeks later, her feat was expunged from the record books and she was kicked out of the team.
Now the German authorities are making amends to the 95-year-old, who emigrated to the US in 1937 and changed her name to Margaret Lambert.
The country's track and field association has restored her achievement to the record books, calling the decision an "act of justice and a symbolic gesture" but admitting it could "in no way make up" for the past. The association also requested that she be included in Germany sport's hall of fame".
At least, like Jesse Owens, she never had to shake Hitler's hand.
