Sports

Olympics: Jesse Owens and Luz Long and a message of hope

Published

1 month ago

July 16, 2024

Hitler was present at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium as Owens and Long contested one of the Games’ greatest long jump finals.

After a see-sawing battle, Long matched Owens’ leading distance of 7.87m with his penultimate attempt, to the delight of the home fans.

But Owens dug out his best when he needed it most, responding with 7.94m, to move clear of Long once again.

Long produced a foul on his final attempt, but his performance was good enough for silver and a first Olympic long jump medal for Germany.

Owens, with his title already assured, created further history with a final leap of 8.06m – setting an Olympic record that would stand for 24 years.

Long, putting aside his own disappointment, instinctively leapt into the sandpit to congratulate him.

Locked in that moment, alone in their embrace as an appreciative capacity crowd of more than 100,000 people watched on, Owens confided to his rival: “You forced me to give my best.”

Between them, Owens and Long had surpassed the previous Olympic record five times.

“It’s almost like a fairytale – to jump so long in this weather,” said Long in an interview with his hometown newspaper, Neue Leipziger Zeitung.

“I can’t help it. I run to him. I’m the first to congratulate him, to hug him.”

Long’s impulsive reaction caught the attention of the German authorities.

Soon after the Olympic Games, his mother, Johanna, made a note in her diary about a warning from Rudolf Hess, then deputy Fuhrer of the Nazi Party.

Long, she wrote, had “received an order from the highest authority” that he should never again embrace a black person.

He had been noted as “not racially conscious” by the Nazi regime.

The embrace clearly angered the Nazis, who often used powerful imagery to further its own ideology and feared how Owens and Long’s friendship might undermine its propaganda.

In that respect, they were right.

Almost 90 years later, Owens and Long’s friendship is one of the most enduring Olympic stories.

“The gesture of kindness and fairness touched the hearts of many people,” says Kellner-Long.

“Together, Luz and Jesse enjoyed a special friendship that day, demonstrating to the world that in sports and in life, friendship and respect are the most important things, regardless of background or skin colour.”

Stuart Rankin, Owens’ only grandson, is equally struck by its significance.

“I often say that of all my grandfather’s accomplishments at the 1936 Olympics, the unlikely friendship that he struck with Luz Long is the thing of which I am most proud and most impressed by,” he says.

“For them to have forged that friendship, under those conditions, in those circumstances, in that stadium, in the face of Hitler, was just phenomenal.”

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Sports

Alex Robertson: Cardiff sign Manchester City midfielder

Published

3 weeks ago

August 7, 2024

worlddailyinfo

Robertson is the nephew of former Cardiff player Gavin Rae, who spent four years with the capital club between 2007-11.

Robertson, who used to wear Bluebirds kit as a child, told the club website: “He [Rae] told me a lot of good things about the city and the club.

“Going forward in my career now, this feels like the right place to be. I’m buzzing. It’s been a few weeks coming. I’m so glad it is over the line.

“City have built a great squad for the upcoming season now and I want to be a part of that. The gaffer told me the way he likes to play and what he expects from his players.

“I feel I can learn a lot from him and the more senior players in our squad. I’m ready to go. I’ve got stronger over the last few months.”

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut said: “We’re delighted Alex is here.

“There were six other clubs that were in for him, which shows what a talent he is. We had a meeting 10 days ago and explained our goals for the club and for Alex. Our hopes and plans were aligned.

“Alex can deliver a lot. He’s got quality. He’s technically very good with a great work rate and can add to what we already have. We now have a great mix of youth and experience in the midfield.”

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Olympics high-jump highlights: Injury scare for Murtaz Barshim

Published

3 weeks ago

August 7, 2024

worlddailyinfo

Joint-defending high jump champion Murtaz Barshim puills up with injury during qualifying for the Paris 2024 final, with his fellow gold medallist Gianmarco Tamberi the first to check on his rival.

Follow the Olympics on BBC Sport.

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Paris 2024: Kellie Harrington has ‘no more mountains’ as double Olympic champion retires

Published

3 weeks ago

August 7, 2024

Andy Gray

At Roland Garros, the home of French tennis that had been transformed into a boxing arena for Olympic finals, it was more akin to Dublin than Paris.

Before Harrington and Wenlu Yang of China had even entered Court Philippe-Chatrier, you could sense there was something special brewing.

Two fights earlier, Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who put aside noise surrounding her eligibility, guaranteed herself a medal and the atmosphere was electric.

But it was about to be dialled up to 11.

Zombie by the Cranberries blared out just before Harrington entered to a sea of colour and noise.

She was cool and methodical as she strode towards the ring. It was the walk of a champion.

Fifteen minutes later, her calm exterior was shattered as the result was drowned out by a crescendo of noise from the Irish support.

While those in the stands celebrated, Harrington fell to her knees before jumping into the arms of her coaching team and then dancing around the ring.

There was even singing ringside as the Irish party was shaping up to go on well into the Parisian night.

It was an outpouring of joy and elation. Both in the stands and the ring, it was pure pandemonium.

“It was amazing. I said to the coaches after: ‘Is there anything I won’t do?'” Harrington said.

“It was brilliant. The Irish are just great. I never expected anything like that. This is something I’m never going to forget, ever.”

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