Jesse Owens’ 1936 Olympic Gold Medal

As Hitler weaponized hate based on race, religion, and sexual orientation, a German official chillingly referred to America’s black athletes as “non-humans,” arguing that they shouldn’t be allowed to compete. The Nazi regime spent years planning to use Berlin’s “Hitler Olympics” to showcase his so-called “Aryan Race.” Thanks to Owens record four gold medals, what the world saw was “the master athlete humiliating the master race.”

The Long Jump was the second of Owens’ four golds at the 1936 Games.

One of the most enduring images of the Olympics was of Germany’s Luz Long providing one of most selfless and bravest examples of sportsmanship in the history of sports. Luz’s encouragement is said to have enabled Owens to win the Long Jump (then known as the Broad Jump) gold, consigning Long to the silver medal. Together, they took a victory lap arm in arm. Owens, an African-American discriminated against in his own country because of his skin color, and Long, the blond haired embodiment of Hitler’s “master race,” showed the world that sportsmanship could transcend discrimination and nationalistic divides.

★ Owens’ Olympic Gold Medal. ★ Owens’ “Diploma” or Certificate for his Long Jump victory, August 4, 1936.