Revisionist History Hitler’s Olympics, Part 5: The Amateur’s Hour
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Jul 25, 2024 
Margaret Lambert, a German Jewish high jumper, shares her profound experiences facing discrimination during the Nazi regime. She dives into her passionate quest for Olympic greatness amid political turmoil and the exclusion from local sports clubs. The discussion explores the moral dilemmas faced by Avery Brundage, president of the American Olympic Committee, as he balanced ambition with the stark realities of anti-Semitism and propaganda at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Her story highlights the clash between Olympic ideals and the urgent need for equality in sports.
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Margaret Lambert's Early Life
- Margaret Lambert, born Gretel Bergmann, was a talented high jumper in Germany.
- She thrived in her local sports club until Hitler's rise to power.
Hitler's Impact on Jewish Athletes
- In 1933, Lambert's high jump was among the best in Germany, qualifying her for the Olympics.
- However, Hitler's regime began to exclude Jewish athletes from sports.
Nazi Germany and the Olympics
- The Nazi regime banned Jewish people from public spaces and promoted fitness for Aryans.
- Hitler aimed to use the Olympics to showcase German power and unity.