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.

During the early years of her life in Wilmington, she devoted herself to raising her children, but starting in the 1960s she developed her artistic talents. She started as an oil painter, developing her technique under well-known Wilmington painter Ed Loper. Later, she turned to watercolors and was elected to membership in the National, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia watercolor societies. She sold many paintings over the years, many of which were donated to hospitals and clinics in and around Wilmington and now grace their walls. She was an avid gardener, and her watercolors focused largely on the beauty of nature.

Personal Best: LJ – 5.91 (1950).