“The likeable Miss Henoch is the female Nurmi.” That’s what a sports reporter wrote about Lilli Henoch. We are standing in front of the Lilli-Henoch-Sporthalle. It is named after an extraordinary athlete. Lilli Henoch was a ten-time German champion. She excelled in discus, shot-put, long jump, and sprint relay.
Lilli Henoch was born in Königsberg in 1899. Later, she moved to Berlin. She joined the Berliner Sport-Club. This was at a time when athletics was considered “masculine.”
At the Berliner Sport-Club, Lilli’s career took off. In 1924, she became the German national champion in four fields. These were shot put, discus throw, long jump, and the 4×100 meters relay. She set two discus throw world records. Also she set a world record in the shot put. She was part of the running team that achieved a world record. This was in the 4×100 meter relay race in 1926.
Some say her achievements encouraged the International Olympic Committee. They approved women’s participation in athletics. This happened for the first time in the 1928 Olympics. Lilli Henoch didn’t participate in these Olympics. However, she remained prominent in her club. She captained the handball team. She was considered one of Berlin’s best-known athletes. In 1933, she was elected chairwoman of the women’s athletic section.
The Nazi government banned her from athletic activity in 1933. This was shortly after she was appointed chairwoman. Lilli then joined the Jüdischer Turn-und Sportclub. She played handball and won two championships. She also became a gymnastics teacher.
Lilli received an offer to coach in the Netherlands. She refused. She wanted to stay in Berlin with her widowed mother. In 1942, Lilli and her mother were deported to Riga. They were shot three days later in the forest. They were buried in a mass grave.
In 1993/1994, Berlin named a street after Lilli Henoch. In 2003, the Spreewald primary school renamed their gym Lilli-Henoch-Sporthalle. Since 2004, BSC has carried out their tradition women’s sports festival in her name. This hall stands as a reminder of Lilli Henoch’s legacy. She was not only a remarkable athlete but also a symbol of resilience. Her achievements continue to inspire. They remind us of the importance of remembering the past.