How many of you know Luz Long? I can give some glue here. Olympics, 1936. This Olympics happened in Berlin. Now understood? How many of you know Jesse Owens? Now re collect Luz Long. Luz long won the silver medal in the same Olympics where Jesse won gold and Luz long showed the best sport man ship in this event.
Good morning fellow toastmasters and guest today I am going talk a story of a real sport man ship!
1936 Olympics – Berlin was a blessed event for Jesse Owen. This kind of achievement will be a dream and not many can dare to dream what Jesse has achieved. Jesse was a favourite before this event itself.
This African American won 4 gold medal, that was maximum gold medal by any Olympian till 1936 Olympics. His success was a major blow to Adolf Hitler, who hoped to show Aryan supremacy at this event. The grandson of a slave and son of sharecropper Owen’s victory was noticed in due to many reasons.
He won his 100 m race edging his team mate Ralph Metcalfe. He won 200 M and 4 *100 M ralay with his team mates. Apart from these 3 victories, we won his medal in long jump.
Long jump was Jesse 2nd event. Owen was about disqualifying from this competition. He was doing his qualifying jump. He got foul in his 2 out of 3 jumps. One of his practise jumps but officials counted as an attempt. He had one more jump. Jesse was fully in tension and champion will become a below average human being this time. This is time we all need a hand from god to lift. He was totally fable not sure what to do. He was preparing himself for one more foul and get disqualify from this event.
In the Berlin Olympic stadium, 1000s of audience cheering and looking him for his last qualifying attempt. Jesse was competing against all the best jumpers in the world. The major competitor was from Germany itself. Their best jumper, Luz Long. Adolf Hitler is watching him from the royal gallery to see him fail. The situation was set to get a heart attack if you or me in Jesse’s place.
This is the time one man, tall , blond haired and blue eyed person approached Jesse and introduced himself and Long. He is the toughest competitor for Jesse. He is very much favoured by Adolf Hitler. He offered a suggestion to Jesse Owens, to play safe. Make your mark several inches before the take off board and Jump from there. Owen followed Luz Long advice word by word and qualify for the finals.
Later that day, Long ‘s fifth jump matched Jesse’s 25 -10 in the final but Owen won the gold medal by his last jump of 26 -5.5. The first congratulate Owen was Long. Hear I should use Jesse Owens words “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler,” Owens said. “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 Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace. The sad part of the story is I never saw Long again. He was killed in World War II.”
Jesse Owen becomes the Campion of champions after this Olympics. Even after decades Jesse Owens victory remain same. Long become the champion of true sport man ship and true hero for Jesse Owens. I don’t think the word hero is not enough to respect Long’s sport man ship.
We all have a person behind our success. She / he have show unconditional love to back up for our success. They never bothered any visibility; they just wanted us to be successful in our life. Do you know whom am I talking about?? I am sure at least one person will be there for all of you.
Over to you toastmaster !!
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