Youngest US Olympian to Win Gold: Marjorie Gestring


Geannette Wittendorf - Marjorie Gestring

As a German-American, Geannette Wittendorf finds herself supporting both Team USA and Germany at the Olympic Games. It makes matters just a bit more exciting! Following two teams of incredible athletes is quite a fun journey.

Wittendorf enjoys researching highlights of past Olympic games. Recently, she discovered an incredible young athlete who won a Gold medal for USA at only 13 years old: Marjorie Gestring.

Marjorie Gestring is revered as one of the youngest Olympians to ever win a Gold medal. At just 13 years and 268 days old, she competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were hosted in Berlin, Germany. This was an incredible historical feat which made her, at the time, the youngest person ever to win an Olympic Gold medal -- in any event! Gestring was a competitive springboard diver with an impressive career for someone so young. After winning Gold in Berlin, she continued to claim victories at national competitions across the United States. For two consecutive years, she maintained the US National Women’s High Diving Champion title in 1939 and 1940.

Unfortunately, although Marjorie Gestring made the team for the 1940 Summer Olympics, the Games were cancelled due to WWII. Her fellow divers, including Margaret Ambrosia, claimed that they were confident she would have won Gold again. Sadly, Gestring did not get another chance at diving to victory at the Games, as she did not make it onto the team when she competed for a spot in the 1948 Summer Olympics. It would have been great to see what amazing things she could have accomplished in 1940!

Geannette Wittendorf finds the history of the Olympics to be as exciting as the Games themselves! For more interesting tidbits about Teams USA and Germany at the Olympic Games (both past and present), check out Geannette Wittendorf on Quora!

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