The 2008 Beijing Olympics has spawned sports superstars. Standing high on the totem pole is Michael Phelps of the United States who won eight gold medals in swimming and burying in the process Mark Spitz' seven-gold medal haul in the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. But Phelps' overpowering dominance is insufficient to diminish the luster of another brilliant performance by an American athlete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Berlin was chosen to host the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Nazism was then running rampant throughout pre-World War II Eastern Europe. The Berlin Olympics was the golden opportunity for Adolph Hitler to prove to the world the reality of the Master Race--the Aryans. The Berlin Olympics also gave the Nazis the perfect opportunity to show off to the world as 49 countries armed with their sophisticated media paraphernalia were competing. It was the perfect scenario for Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to browbeat.
The Nazi Germany team had trained full time, thus pushing to the limit the idea of amateur competition. Lutz Lang, a brilliant long jumper who easily fitted into the image of blond hair, blue-eyed Aryan racial superiority, was Germany's athletic superstar of the time.
Twenty-two year-old Jesse Owens of the United States, an African-American who was considered inferior to the athletes in the German team, was then the reigning athletic superstar. He didn't care much for Hitler's politics--or any politics for that matter! All he ever wanted was to show off his athletic prowess and represent America to the best of his abilities.
Hitler had earlier castigated the United States for sending the inferior African-Americans to the Games. In return, Owens made Hitler eat his words by running away with gold medals in four events: 100-meter dash, long jump, 200-meter dash, and 4 x 100-meter relay.
In the 100 meters, Owens edged out teammate Ralph Metcalfe in 10.3 seconds. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt of Jamaica set the 100m record in 9.69 seconds.
Owens' second gold came after he defeated Lutz Lang in a very close long jump final. Owens had fouled out on his first two attempts. Lang then approached Owens and suggested that the latter just play it safe and jump a few inches before the usual take-off spot. Owens heeded the German's advice and qualified for the finals. He went on to win the gold. Lang was the first to congratulate Owens when the long jump final was over.
"It took a lot of courage for Lutz Lang to befriend me in front of Hitler," Owens would later say. "You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Lutz Lang at that moment."
"The Americans should be ashamed of themselves, letting Negroes win their medals for them. I shall not shake hands with this Negro. Do you really think that I will allow myself to be photographed shaking hands with this Negro?"
Balder von Shirach claimed that Hitler had said this after the 100m victory of Jesse Owens.
Hitler refused to place the gold medal around Owens' neck.
Hitler abhorred the blacks and the Jews. He totally missed the idea that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!
One last word from Jesse Owens: "In the end, it's extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more than that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don't win, how can you lose?"
Berlin was chosen to host the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Nazism was then running rampant throughout pre-World War II Eastern Europe. The Berlin Olympics was the golden opportunity for Adolph Hitler to prove to the world the reality of the Master Race--the Aryans. The Berlin Olympics also gave the Nazis the perfect opportunity to show off to the world as 49 countries armed with their sophisticated media paraphernalia were competing. It was the perfect scenario for Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to browbeat.
The Nazi Germany team had trained full time, thus pushing to the limit the idea of amateur competition. Lutz Lang, a brilliant long jumper who easily fitted into the image of blond hair, blue-eyed Aryan racial superiority, was Germany's athletic superstar of the time.
Twenty-two year-old Jesse Owens of the United States, an African-American who was considered inferior to the athletes in the German team, was then the reigning athletic superstar. He didn't care much for Hitler's politics--or any politics for that matter! All he ever wanted was to show off his athletic prowess and represent America to the best of his abilities.
Hitler had earlier castigated the United States for sending the inferior African-Americans to the Games. In return, Owens made Hitler eat his words by running away with gold medals in four events: 100-meter dash, long jump, 200-meter dash, and 4 x 100-meter relay.
In the 100 meters, Owens edged out teammate Ralph Metcalfe in 10.3 seconds. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt of Jamaica set the 100m record in 9.69 seconds.
Owens' second gold came after he defeated Lutz Lang in a very close long jump final. Owens had fouled out on his first two attempts. Lang then approached Owens and suggested that the latter just play it safe and jump a few inches before the usual take-off spot. Owens heeded the German's advice and qualified for the finals. He went on to win the gold. Lang was the first to congratulate Owens when the long jump final was over.
"It took a lot of courage for Lutz Lang to befriend me in front of Hitler," Owens would later say. "You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Lutz Lang at that moment."
"The Americans should be ashamed of themselves, letting Negroes win their medals for them. I shall not shake hands with this Negro. Do you really think that I will allow myself to be photographed shaking hands with this Negro?"
Balder von Shirach claimed that Hitler had said this after the 100m victory of Jesse Owens.
Hitler refused to place the gold medal around Owens' neck.
Hitler abhorred the blacks and the Jews. He totally missed the idea that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!
One last word from Jesse Owens: "In the end, it's extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more than that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don't win, how can you lose?"
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