Arthur Jonath

Arthur Jonath (9 September 1909 – 14 April 1963) was a German sprinter. He competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in the 4 × 100 m, 100 m and 200 m events and finished in second, third and fourth place, respectively.

Jonath was a boxer, and switched to athletics due to a hand injury. In 1931-1932 he won the German titles in both 100 m and 200 m. He set three indoor world records in the 50 m and 60 m in 1930 and 1931, and two outdoor world records in the 100 m in 1932 and 1933; he set three more world records with the German 4 × 100 m relay team.

After the Los Angeles Games, Jonath stayed in the United States upon invitation from actresses Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. He was offered American citizenship and a university education, but his stepfather brought him back to Germany. Jonath was a guest of honor at the Berlin Olympics. During World War II he fought as an SS officer on the Eastern Front; he was taken prisoner by the Soviet troops and then transferred to an American prisoner-of-war camp near Frankfurt.

After the war Jonath ran a petrol station and trained runners at FSV 1899 Frankfurt. His nephew Ulrich also became a prominent athletic coach.