'36 olympic fact or myth?

[lonewolf]

I have heard this story all my life but the version I heard was that Lutz Long suggested that Owens, after fouling his first two jumps, move his starting mark back a foot for his third prelim jump to insure making the finals..

This has always struck me as rather unremarkable advice that any Junior High jumper could figure out unassisted.

The video link, however, says Long placed a towel a foot before the take off board and advised Owens to jump from that point.. Presumably, the towel was placed beside and not on the runway. It is not visible in the video.

. I don't know what the rules were in 1936 Germany but this would not be permitted now... either way, this is not brain surgery and seems thin gruel from which to concoct a legend but I don't begrudge Paul Harvey a warm fuzzy

[Daisy]

Which doesn't jibe w/ my earlier post, of course:

<<In his book "Olympic Facts & Fables" Tom Ecker puts the long jump story in the myth category. At the end of a long exposition on the subject he writes, "Owens himself finally settled the matter late in his life when he admitted that he and Long never spoke to each other until after the long jump competition was completed later that day.">>

But was Owen's talking about the qualifying or the final. Or were they one and the same?

[gh]

Which doesn't jibe w/ my earlier post, of course:

<<In his book "Olympic Facts & Fables" Tom Ecker puts the long jump story in the myth category. At the end of a long exposition on the subject he writes, "Owens himself finally settled the matter late in his life when he admitted that he and Long never spoke to each other until after the long jump competition was completed later that day.">>

[bambam]

In 1979, I had lunch with Jesse Owens in Scottsdale and he confirmed the Luz Long tale to me that he had helped him during the qualifying.

[guru]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

In his book "Olympic Facts & Fables" Tom Ecker puts the long jump story in the myth category. At the end of a long exposition on the subject he writes, "Owens himself finally settled the matter late in his life when he admitted that he and Long never spoke to each other until after the long jump competition was completed later that day."

But wasn't his advice to Owens why Long was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal? :?


And this from Owens:

"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."

http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016393.html

[Natasha]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

Here's a link to a short video of the race and long jump, including the towel scene. Also some other historical moments. Click on the video at the bottom of page.
http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/mul ... iaType=vid

[gh]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

According to Olympics Facts & Fables, Owens put up no protest and notes that several years after the fact Ralph Metcalfe said Owens "didn't say a word. I guess he wanted number four that bad."

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I just came across this in "The Games of 1936: a Pictorial History of the 1936 Olympics in Germany" by Stan Cohen (1996).

"The author has learned that a reported note from Hitler to Brundage exists stating that if the Jews [Glickman and Stoller] were not removed from the team he would shut down the games. It is supposed to be in the collection of Brundage's secretary, but this could not be confirmed at press time."

The author also cites an interview with Glickman. He said that the relay was to be Stoller to Glickman to Draper to Wykoff, and had been practiced that way for two weeks. The day the relay competition started, Owens and Metcalfe were tapped to replace Stoller and Glickman by coaches Lawson Robertson and Dean Cromwell. Owens protested but was told "do as you're told". The reasoning was "a strong rumor that the Germans were hiding their best sprinters and saving them to upset the American team".

[billthedog]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

The four who ran were Owens, Draper, Metcalfe and Wykoff. Owens, Metcalfe and Wykoff were the three qualifiers in the Olympic trials and Draper was fourth, ahead of Glickman and Stoller. Each of the three qualififiers had a claim to be in the relay apart from the trials order of finish. For Owens it would be his legendary fourth gold medal; for Metcalfe, the best sprinter of his time, it would be his first; and for Wykoff it would be his third relay gold medal in three Games. And Draper had finished ahead of Glickman and Stoller in the trials and nothing suggested he had lost condition. Nevetheless, there is lots of testimony from a number of witnesses that Glickman and Stoller were supposed to be on the team and that Brundage (perhaps seconded by Dean Cromwell, the sprint coach and coach at SC of both Wykoff and Draper) forced their removal. Glickman of course proclaimed this loudly until his dying day; I heard him once and was convinced, although I've never been sure who the intended four were.

[Pego]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

Yep. Just look at Their Majesties, Juan Samaranch and the late Primo Nebiolo. How comparable to Brundage in so many aspects were they?

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

As I understand it, they didn't always put the best runners on the relay at that time (just look at the 4x400 in the same games, where top runners were on the sidelines). I won't presume to know as much about this topic as others here do, but it was out of character to bring these guys across the ocean if they never were going to run.

I've read that both Brundage and Sullivan ruled with an iron fist and dealt harshly with anyone that crossed them. This is hardly unusual for people with unchecked power in any sphere, athletic or not.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

now I am getting "curiouser and curiouser" about this. I have always sort of heard that Glickman and Stoller were pulled because they were Jewish, butis is remotely possible that Metcalfe and Ownes were put in because they were faster ?! Last time I checked, Metcalfe and Owens were pretty fair sprinters.

Brundage probably was an ass in many ways and maybe a bigot too, but was it towards Jews, Blacks, or what ? Maybe, just maybe he's getting a bad rap on this one.

[BillCarr]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

Metcalfe and Owens replaced Glickman & Stoller (both Jewish) on the order of Brundage . . . the relay was not necessarily the fastest 4 folks like it is today

they put Wykoff on the anchor because he was the "old timer" - it was his third Olympics, right ?

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I'll reply to all I can:

Thanks to all for the input.
Garry, I read Ecker's book, which is why I wanted some other, maybe more informed opinions than my own.
I am aware of events surrounding Hitler, Glickman, and other stories surrounding the Berlin games. Clarifications were welcomed.

'Jounrnalistic liberties'? I chuckled writing it, but what else do I call it? Gobble-d-gook?

Is the towel breaking rules? I am not a certified official, but I would guess 'no' since there are tape checkmarks everywhere.

I'm guessing Harvey used 'coach' to keep in suspense who it was that helped Owens. He did not mention Reifenstahl, so possibly a coincidence.
Again, thanks to all.

[tandfman]

Re: '36 olympic fact or myth?

I assume that Paul Harvey was speaking about the '36 Olympics because Leni Reifenstahl died last night. If not, it's an eerie coincidence.