"My Greatest Olympic Prize" by Jesse Owens

  "My Greatest Olympic Prize" by Jesse Owens



  Life writings are works based on memories and experiences of one's or anothers. Examples are: memoir, diaries, letters, biographies, autobiographies, testimonies etc. 


"The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well." - Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Olympic games.

    'My Greatest Olympic Prize' is an autobiographical sketch written by Jesse Owens. This is a fascinating work that portrays true friendship at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. A story that created history. This is the story of the unquenchable thirst of a man who aimed at the Olympic medal and the race towards it. This story is set during the power of Aryan Supremacy. Hitler's nationalist feelings were too high. The story is written in 1st person narrative.

    Jesse Owens trained, sweated a disciplined six years before he reached Berlin. He was trained for the running broad. He trained at the Ohio State University and set the world record at 26 ft 8 1/4 inches. Everyone expected him to win hands down. He was in for a surprise, during the trials, a tall boy hit 26ft on his practice leaps. He was a German named Luz Long. Hitler kept Luz under his wraps. If Luz won, it was a new support to Nazi's Aryan Superiority theory. Jesse Owens wanted to prove this wrong. He, a Negro, believed that he could  prove this theory wrong. Unfortunately, he was too angry that he kept making mistakes. Jesse fouled twice. He travelled 3000 miles to foul out of the trials, he thought to himself. He felt he was making a fool out of himself. He kicked the pit disgustedly. Suddenly, there was a hand on his shoulder. A friendly, pair of blue eyes were in front of him. It was none other than Luz Long, the tall German broad jumper. "You should be qualifying with your eyes closed. Be confident enough to approve it." Luz said. They talked together. Luz understood Jesse's anger and reassured him. Luz was schooled in the Nazi youth movement but, he didn't believe in the Aryan Supremacy. Jesse drew an invisible line a few inches behind the board and aimed at take off from there. "Tomorrow is what counts." He qualified with almost a foot to spare. At night, Jesse went to thank Luz in the Olympic rooms. If it hadn't been for him, he wouldn't be jumping into the finals. they talked for almost two hours, there were many things on Jesse's mind: track, field, life, world situation and many other things. 
    
       A Real friendship was formed between Jesse and Luz. Luz wanted Jesse to do his best even though that meant winning. Luz broke his own past record which pushed Jesse to a peak performance. Jesse jumped at 26 ft 5 5/16 inches. Luz congratulated him. Hitler glared at them from the stands while they shook hands.Later he described their friendship to be a 24 - karat pure friendship. The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well. Friendship values over winning. thus the day of 1936 Olympics created history, history with the records, (Owens won four Gold Medals on his way back home) and also the German/Negro friendship that we still remember.

Prepared by
Dr. Susan Mathew

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