Friendship

Topics: Friendship, Encouragement

Berlin -- Jesse Owens seemed sure to win the long jump at the 1936
games. The year before he had jumped 26 feet, 8 1/4 inches -- a record
that would stand for 25 years. As he walked to the long-jump pit,
however, Owens saw a tall, blue eyed, blond German taking practice jumps
in the 26-foot range. Owens felt nervous. He was acutely aware of the
Nazis' desire to prove "Aryan superiority," especially over blacks. At
this point, the tall German introduced himself as Luz Long. "You should
be able to qualify with your eyes closed!" he said to Owens, referring
to his two jumps. For the next few moments the black son of a
sharecropper and the white model of Nazi manhood chatted. Then Long made
a suggestion. Since the qualifying distance was only 23 feet, 5 1/2
inches, why not make a mark several inches before the takeoff board and
jump from there, just to play it safe? Owens did and qualified easily.
In the finals Owens set an Olympic record and earned the second of four
golds. The first person to congratulate him was Luz Long -- in full view
of Adolf Hitler. Owens never again saw Long, who was killed in World War
II. "You could melt down all the medals and cups I have," Owens later
wrote, "and they wouldn't be a platting on the 24-carat friendship I
felt for Luz Long."

David Wallechinsky in The Complete Book of the Olympics