Käthe Krauß

Käthe Krauß won a bronze medal in the 100 at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. What appeared to be her biggest success was marred by the disqualification of the German 4x100 team when Marie Dollinger and Ilse Dörffeldt dropped the baton on the final exchange, despite having a big lead. In their heat they had set a world record. Krauß ran on the winning 4x100 relay team at the 1938 European Championships, and added two silvers in the 100 and 200. Four years earlier at the 1934 Women’s World Games Krauß won three gold medals (100, 200, 4x100 relay) and one bronze medal (discus throw). She also set 10 world records, and won 15 German titles in different disciplines (100, 200, 4x100, long jump and pentathlon).

In her later years Krauß became a sports teacher and administrator. From 1937-45 she was a Women’s Delegate within the German Track and Field Association (DSBfA at that time), and in 1953-54 in the Rhineland Palatinate. In 1952 she published the textbook Der Kurzstreckenlauf. Frauen und Mädels beim Lauf (Short Distance Running. Women and Girls’ Running). In 1947 Krauß moved from East Germany’s Dresden to West Germany’s Landau, where she was also active as a pianist and owned a sporting goods shop.

Personal Best: 100 – 11.8 (1935).