Ellen Preis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	6 May 1912 Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany
Died	18 November 2007 (aged 95) Vienna, Austria
Sport
Sport	Fencing
Club	Fechtsaal Werdnik, Wien Union Fechtclub, Wien
Medal record Representing  Austria Olympic Games Gold 1932 Los Angeles Individual foil Bronze 1936 Berlin Individual foil Bronze 1948 London Individual foil

Ellen Müller-Preis (born May 6, 1912, died November 18, 2007) was an amazing fencer from Austria. She was born in Germany but became an Austrian Olympic champion in foil fencing. In 1949, she was even named Austria's top female athlete of the year!

Ellen Müller-Preis: A Fencing Star

Ellen Müller-Preis was born in Berlin, Germany. When she was 18, in 1930, she moved to Vienna, Austria. There, her aunt taught her how to fence. In less than two years, she won third place at the European Championships in Vienna. She later married Dr. Müller.

Winning World and National Titles

Ellen Müller-Preis was a very successful fencer. She won three world championships in 1947, 1949, and 1950. She also won many national titles in Austria, a total of 17! Because of her great achievements, she was chosen as the first "Austrian Female Athlete of the Year" in 1949.

For a long time, Ellen Müller-Preis held a special record. The Guinness Book of World Records said she had the longest Olympic career for any woman. She competed in the Olympics from 1932 all the way to 1956. Two Olympic Games were canceled during that time because of World War II.

Olympic Journey and Medals

Preis (left) at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Ellen Müller-Preis was a citizen of both Germany and Austria. She first wanted to fence for Germany at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. But the German Fencing Federation said no. So, she decided to fence for Austria instead. At those Olympics, she won the gold medal by beating Heather "Judy" Guinness from England.

She continued her success at later Olympics. She won bronze medals at both the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1948 London Olympics.

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Ellen Müller-Preis was one of several Jewish athletes who won medals. In the women's individual foil competition, all three medals went to Jewish women. These fencers are known as some of the best women fencers of the 20th century. Ilona Elek from Hungary won the gold medal. She beat Helene Mayer from Germany, who won silver. Helene Mayer was one of only two Jewish athletes allowed to compete for Germany by the Nazis. She caused some discussion by giving the Nazi salute when she received her medal.

In 1956, when she was 44 years old, Ellen Müller-Preis still made it to the final round at the Melbourne Olympics. She finished in seventh place.

Life After Fencing

After she stopped competing in fencing, Ellen Müller-Preis became a professor. She taught at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) in Vienna. She also taught at the Max Reinhardt Seminar. She even coached at the Vienna Staatsoper and the Burgtheater. She worked as a helper to make sure that fencing scenes in plays looked real and correct.

Ellen Müller-Preis passed away on November 18, 2007, in Vienna, at the age of 95.

See also

In Spanish: Ellen Müller-Preis para niños