As a gymnast at the closing ceremony
of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin she witnessed one of the most notorious
scenes in the Games’ history.
Hildegard
Fraser had just turned 13 and had no idea why Adolf Hitler had refused
to shake the hand of black athlete Jesse Owens, who had just won four
gold medals.
Now, 76 years
on, German-born Mrs Fraser is looking forward to her second Olympics –
this time as a torch carrier in a ceremonial procession to mark the 2012
Games in London.


Hildegard Fraser, left, in Germany before the
start of World War II and right, ahead of her participation in a
ceremonial Olympic procession
Back in 1936 she had no idea her country was on the brink of a world war sparked by the Nazi leader who, in her naivete, she admired at the time.
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