Helene (Leni) HOFKNECHT

Leni Hofknecht was born in 1929 in Bayreuth and by age 17 was an outstanding 100 m sprinter and long jumper. In 1950 and in 1952 she became runner-up at the German nationals in the long jump. With her best jump of 5.59 meters in 1948 she could have won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in London, but because Germany was not invited due to World War II, she had to wait for the 1952 Olympics, where she finished 15th in the long jump, although her personal best of 5.91 meters would have been enough for fourth place.

Before the 1952 Olympics Leni Hofknecht was an exchange student at Winona State Teacher's College in Minnesota. Shortly after the Olympics, she married American Frederick Mader in Bayreuth, and then immigrated to the United States, where they later settled in West Grove, Pennsylvania.

Personal Best: LJ – 5.91 (1950).