Tilly Fleischer

Tilly Fleischer
Fleischer after winning the javelin event at the 1936 Games
Personal information
Full nameOttilie Fleischer
NationalityGerman
Born(1911-10-02)2 October 1911
Frankfurt, Germany
Died14 July 2005(2005-07-14) (aged 93)
Lahr, Germany
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Sport
Country Germany
SportField athletics and handball
Event(s)Shot, discus and javelin
ClubEintracht Frankfurt (handball)
Medal record
Representing Germany Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1936 Berlin Javelin throw
Representing Germany Germany
Bronze medal – third place 1932 Los Angeles Javelin throw
Women's World Games
Silver medal – second place 1930 Prague Discus
Silver medal – second place 1934 London Shot put

Ottilie "Tilly" Fleischer (2 October 1911 – 14 July 2005) was a German athlete who competed in a variety of track and field athletic events. She competed for Germany in the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles in three different events, taking the bronze medal in the javelin. Four years later in her home country at the 1936 Games she won the gold medal in the javelin in front of the Berlin crowds.

The reaction of Olympic officials to the congratulations given to her by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was put forward as the reason why Hitler never congratulated American athlete Jesse Owens after his first gold medal victory. Rumours appeared in 1966 as to who was the father of one of her daughters, after her daughter Giselle claimed in a book to be the daughter of Adolf Hitler.