Gretel Bergmann

Gretel Bergmann, born on April twelfth, nineteen fourteen, was a remarkable German Jewish track and field athlete renowned for her high jumping prowess during the 1930s. Her athletic career was tragically overshadowed by the rise of the Nazi regime, which barred her from competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics due to her Jewish heritage.

After being denied the opportunity to showcase her talents on the world stage, Bergmann made the difficult decision to leave Germany, vowing never to return. However, in two thousand four, she revisited her homeland to reconnect with her former rival, Elfriede Kaun, whom she cherished as a friend.

Gretel celebrated her one hundredth birthday in two thousand fourteen, a testament to her resilience and spirit. She passed away in two thousand seventeen at her home in Jamaica Estates, Queens, New York, leaving behind a legacy of courage and determination in the face of adversity.