Hedwig Rosenbaum

Biography

Hedwig Rosenbaum (née Austerlitz; 3 July 1864–31 July 1939) was a Prague-born tennis competitor active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She competed at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, where she placed joint third in women's singles and, together with Archibald Warden, joint third in mixed doubles. Modern Olympic results recognize both finishes as bronze-medal performances. Although the Olympic history of Paris 1900 differs from today's medal ceremonies, both performances appear in current Olympic records. Research by historian Martin Pelc established her identity and family background, correcting decades of confusion surrounding her name and birth details. The Czech Olympic Committee identifies her as a member of Prague's German-speaking Jewish community. Her achievement predates the 1928 Olympic silver medal won by Fanny Rosenfeld, whom JWR had previously recognized for this claim. The previous JWR recognition is retained in an immutable historical revision rather than erased.