Meta Elste-Neumann
Encyclopedia
Meta Elste-Neumann (October 16, 1919 – October 30, 2010) was born Bremen
, Germany
. As Meta Elste, she was a competitor for the United States
Women's Olympic Gymnastics team at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London
, United Kingdom
and the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
Finland
.
She won an Olympic bronze medal
with the United States team in 1948
.
Elste was three when her parents emigrated from Germany and settled in Chicago. She learned her gymnastics at the Lincoln Turner Hall on the north side of the city. She briefly attended Lake View High, but after her father suffered a debilitating stroke she had to drop out at the age 14 to help earn money for her family. She used her gymnastics skills as a member of a traveling circus.
Elste's Olympic opportunities were delayed by World War II, when the Games were cancelled in 1940 and 1944, but in 1948 and 1952 she was well-prepared to compete. In national AAU competition, Elste won the uneven parallel bars in 1947, the floor exercise in 1949, and the balance beam in 1952. She was selected nine times for All-American honors by the AAU.
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. As Meta Elste, she was a competitor for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Women's Olympic Gymnastics team at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
She won an Olympic bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
with the United States team in 1948
Gymnastics at the 1948 Summer Olympics
At the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, nine events in gymnastics were contested. Finland led all nations with six gold medals and ten medals overall.-Medal summary:-Notes:...
.
Elste was three when her parents emigrated from Germany and settled in Chicago. She learned her gymnastics at the Lincoln Turner Hall on the north side of the city. She briefly attended Lake View High, but after her father suffered a debilitating stroke she had to drop out at the age 14 to help earn money for her family. She used her gymnastics skills as a member of a traveling circus.
Elste's Olympic opportunities were delayed by World War II, when the Games were cancelled in 1940 and 1944, but in 1948 and 1952 she was well-prepared to compete. In national AAU competition, Elste won the uneven parallel bars in 1947, the floor exercise in 1949, and the balance beam in 1952. She was selected nine times for All-American honors by the AAU.
See also
- Gymnastics at the 1948 Summer OlympicsGymnastics at the 1948 Summer OlympicsAt the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, nine events in gymnastics were contested. Finland led all nations with six gold medals and ten medals overall.-Medal summary:-Notes:...
- United States at the 1948 Summer OlympicsUnited States at the 1948 Summer OlympicsThe United States competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 300 competitors, 262 men and 38 women, took part in 126 events in 19 sports.- Gold:*Harrison Dillard — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...