Elfriede Kaun

Elfriede Kaun earned a bronze medal in the high jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. She was German Champion in 1935-37, and runner-up in 1934 and 1939. Kaun set an indoor world record in 1937. The titles in 1936 and 1937 were originally won by Dora Ratjen, but due to her questionable gender status the titles were given to Kaun. Kaun was educated as a kindergarten nurse. From 1977-90 she was a Committee Member of the “Association of Former Athletes”. When she died in 2008, she was the last surviving German medal winner from the 1936 Olympic Games.

Kaun’s main rival before the 1936 Games was Jewish high jumper Gretel Bergmann. Kaun and Bergmann were good friends, which was confirmed by Lambert-Bergmann later in life, when she lived in the United States. They exchanged letters in 2004 and then were able to meet again. The film Berlin ‘36, which came out in 2009, told the story of Bergmann, who was prevented from starting for Germany in 1936 because of her Jewish background.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.63 (1939).