Ans Polak

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameAnna "Ans"•Polak (-Dresden)
Used nameAns•Polak
Born24 November 1906 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (NED)
Died23 July 1943 in Sobibór, Lubelskie (POL)
AffiliationsBATO, Amsterdam (NED)
NOC Netherlands
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

After placing 3rd in the selection competition, Ans Polak qualified for the Dutch Olympic team for the 1928 Olympics. During the first women’s gymnastics event in Olympic history, Polak and the Dutch team beat four other teams to the gold medal. Polak also enjoyed modest individual success, coming second in the 1929 Dutch All-Around Championships - also the inaugural edition of that event.

Like several of her team mates in the 1928 Dutch team - Stella Agsteribbe, Lea Nordheim, Elka de Levie, alternate Judikje Simons and coach Gerrit Kleerekoper), Polak was Jewish. With the exception of De Levie, they did not survive World War II. Polak was killed at Sobibor on 23 July 1943, alongside her six-year-old daughter, Eva, while her husband, Barend Dresden, died at Auschwitz on 30 November 1944.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) NED Ans Polak
Team All-Around, Women (Olympic) Netherlands 1 Gold

Special Notes