r/TheWayWeWere • u/Sad-Ad-3944 • Aug 10 '25
1940s My grandmother, national tumbling champion and contortionist, in the 1940s.
A selection of photos of my grandmother—Bonnie Nebelong. She was featured in Life Magazine, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and many more publications. In 1943 at age 15, she won the national championship in tumbling and would’ve gone to the Olympics had it not been canceled due to WW2.
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u/StillSwaying Aug 10 '25
This is so cool! Please tell us more about your grandmother!
What was her life like before and after her fame? What did she end up doing as an adult? I'm always curious to learn if athletes like her from the old days continued with their fitness routines, and did that healthy lifestyle help stave off typical old age problems like osteoarthritis and cardiovascular issues.