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Gretel: An Olympian’s Dream

Behind Every Name Animated Video Series

German Jewish athlete Gretel Bergmann was poised to win a gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. At the qualifying trials held two months earlier, she equalled the German women’s high jump record of 1 meter 60 centimeters. But the Nazis’ control of all aspects of German life also extended to sports. This put Gretel’s opportunity to compete in the Berlin Olympics in jeopardy.

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This page is available in Spanish.