Irmgard SCHMELZER-KIRCHHOFF

Irmgard Schmelzer was born in 1921 in Frankfurt am Main and was one of the best German long jumpers in the 1940s and early 50s. From 1940-49 she won a total of six silver and bronze medals in this event at the German athletics championships. Because of World War II, and the subsequent exclusion of Germany in 1948, she could only participate in the 1952 Olympics. Just before the Games she won the German Championship, and then finished fourth at Helsinki. Her personal best of 5.94 meters, a jump she made at Kassel three weeks after the Olympics, would have earned her the bronze medal. In addition to her athletics career Irmgard Schmelzer was an avid handball player and gymnast, and she played tennis until she was 80-years-old.

Personal Best: LJ – 5.94 (1952).