This chapter delves into the impactful friendship between Jesse Owens and Lutz Long during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, showcasing a powerful moment of human connection amid racial and national divides. It highlights their bond through communication and letters, even as Long served in the Nazi army, emphasizing the moral complexities of their friendship during a tumultuous historical period.
The most famous athlete in Berlin was the American sprinter Jesse Owens, and one of the most famous stories from those Games was the unexpected, heartwarming encounter Owens had with the German long jumper Luz Long. The friendship between the two athletes would serve as a symbol of how sports can overcome national antagonisms. We wonder: What really happened at the long jump pit that day?
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