Who was "the third man"? An exploration of the life and sporting career of Käthe Krauß

Historical discussions on suspected intersex athletes during the interwar period have increased in recent years in light of ongoing controversies around the inclusion of transgender and intersex athletes in elite sport competitions. This is especially the case for athletics, the core sport of the Olympic Games, and here the 100-metre final of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Sport historians have highlighted in various works how gold medal winner Helen Stephens (USA) and runner-up Stanisława Walasiewicz (Poland) were forced to submit to genital inspections.<br/><br/>Much less is known about the athlete, who finished third: Anna Katharina, called Käthe, Krauß from Germany. A German relay team member accused Krauß of being a "man", and whilst a few researchers have mentioned this fact, sport historians have largely ignored Krauß. Based on archival documents and historical newspaper accounts, this research explores Krauß' athletic career and discusses her complex lifestory in which she had to navigate gender concerns and political challenges. The findings reveal (1) how Krauß despite her athletic success was kept away from the public spotlight during the Nazi regime and after WW2; (2) how Krauß accepted a role as national women's athletics leader while still an active athlete that resulted her in joining the NSDAP; (3) how Krauß in her coaching role commented on young female athletes' physical appearances; and (4) how Krauß lived a hidden life after escaping a denazification process and migrated to West Germany in 1947.