Tilly Fleischer

Tilly Fleischer was the first German gold medal winner of the 1936 Olympic Games, and was honored by being invited up to Hitler’s special box. This caused the IOC to insist that only the IOC could honor Olympic Champions at the Games, and is the background for the legend that Hitler did not honor Jesse Owens in his box. Fleischer competed in the shot put, discus, and javelin throws. She ranked in the world top 10 year lists from 1929-35 in the shot put, and javelin, and won four German championships, with the 1931 and 1933 4×100 relay team, and in the 1932 and 1936 javelin throw. She also set two world records in shot put in 1929 (12.40 m) and 1930 (12.88 m). After her retirement from athletics Fleischer became 1943 German Champion in handball with her club Eintracht Frankfurt.

The city of Frankfurt presented Fleischer a car for her Olympic victory. After World War II she was the proprietor of two leather goods shops. At the time of her death she was the oldest living German Olympic champion.

Personal Bests: HJ – 1.43 (1928); SP – 12.88 (1930); DT – 38.71 (1935); JT – 45.18 (1936).