Erna Steinberg


Erna Steinberg was a German track and field athlete who specialised in sprinting events.
Born in Charlottenburg, she competed in the first ever women's 100 metres at the Olympics, held at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. At seventeen years old she was among the youngest entrants. Running in the second heat, she won her race in 12.8 seconds – a short-lived Olympic record for the event. She was second to the more experienced Leni Schmidt in the semi-final. Steinberg placed fourth in the first women's Olympic final in the 100 m in a time of 12.4 seconds. This was her only Olympic appearance. During her career she was affiliated with SC Brandenburg. She died in Berlin in 2001 shortly before her 90th birthday.