Sprinter Helga Klein, later Erny, won a silver medal in the 4x100 relay at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, running the third leg, placed fifth in the 200 metre final, and was eliminated in the semifinal of the 100 metres. The German relay team had the same world record time as the winning US team. She started her sports career as a handball player but changed to track and field in 1948. She then became German Champion over 200 metres in 1952 and 1953. Shortly after the Games she was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf of the German Track and Field Association. For more than 30 years Klein ran a butchery together with her husband Emil Erny.
Personal Bests: 100 – 11.8 (1952); 200 – 24.4 (1952).
Germany
West Germany