Emanuel Fortuin was born 20 December 1896 in Amsterdam as son of Isidoor Fortuin and Rebekka Woudstra. He was a teacher physical education and a member of the gymnastic association “Kracht en Vlugheid” (Power and Quickness) in Amsterdam. During the “twenties” he was a well known gymnast.
Many male and female champion gymnasts were Jewish. Names from that time were M. Biet, Emanuel Fortuin, Israël …