The Unlikely Friendship

Jesse Owens and Luz Long: An Unlikely Friendship at the 1936 Olympics

• The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin during a time of high nationalistic feelings due to Hitler's belief in a "master race."
• Jesse Owens had trained for six years with the goal of winning gold medals, particularly in the running broad jump.
• Owens was surprised to see a tall German named Luz Long hitting the pit at almost 26 feet during the broad-jump trials, as Hitler had kept him under wraps hoping to win the jump with him.
• Owens was angry about Hitler's Aryan-superiority theory and determined to show him who was superior.
• Owens made mistakes during the trials and was feeling nervous and frustrated.
• Long approached Owens and offered him advice on how to avoid fouling, and they talked and laughed together, forming a friendship.
• Long wanted Owens to do his best and even broke his own past record during the finals, pushing Owens to a peak performance.
• Owens set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5-5/16 inches and Long congratulated him sincerely, despite Hitler's presence in the stands.
• Owens felt that his friendship with Long was worth more than any gold medals or cups.
• Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, believed that taking part was more important than winning.
• Owens and Long's friendship is an example of the true spirit of the Olympic Games and the importance of friendship and sportsmanship.
• Owens and Long's story is a reminder of the dangers of nationalism and the importance of breaking down barriers and forming connections with people from different backgrounds.

Test your knowledge about the unlikely friendship between Jesse Owens and Luz Long at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Learn about the historical context and the challenges Owens faced as an African American athlete during a time of nationalistic beliefs. Discover how Long's friendship and advice helped Owens achieve his goals and set an Olympic record. This quiz is a tribute to the true spirit of the Olympic Games and the power of friendship and sportsmanship to overcome barriers and unite people from different backgrounds.