Decades Later, Queens Woman Awarded High-Jump Record
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More than 70 years after she was denied the chance to compete for Germany in the Berlin Olympics, a former high jumper now living in Queens is finally getting the justice she's been longing for.
Back in 1936, Margaret Bergmann Lambert of Jamaica Estates matched the German high-jump record of 5' 3" which qualified her for the Olympics. But under Nazi rule, Lambert, who is Jewish, was not allowed to compete and her record was erased.
This week, the German track and field association restored that record.
When asked Tuesday, the 95-year-old said it's justice finally served.
"I was very astonished this would come up after all these years. And although I know it's very unusual, it didn't happen to anybody else what happened to me," Lambert said.
The Nazis chose a man to replace Lambert in the Olympics.