Who were Jesse Owens and Luz Long?
Jesse Owens and Luz Long were two legendary athletes who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Owens, an African-American from the United States, won four gold medals in track and field events, while Long, a German, won the silver medal in the long jump.
Jesse Owens
Owens was born in 1913 in Alabama. He began competing in track and field as a high school student and quickly established himself as one of the fastest runners in the world. In 1936, he competed in the Berlin Olympics and became the first African-American to win four gold medals in a single Olympic Games. He won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the 4x100-meter relay, and the long jump.
Luz Long
Long was born in 1913 in Germany. He began competing in track and field as a teenager and quickly became one of the best long jumpers in the world. In 1936, he competed in the Berlin Olympics and won the silver medal in the long jump, finishing behind Owens.
Owens and Long's Rivalry
Owens and Long's rivalry was one of the most famous in Olympic history. The two athletes were close in age and ability, and they both had their sights set on winning the gold medal in the long jump. In the qualifying round, Owens fouled on his first two jumps, putting himself in danger of being eliminated. Long, seeing Owens struggling, approached him and offered him advice. Owens took Long's advice and fouled on his final jump, qualifying for the final.
In the final, Owens won the gold medal with a jump of 8.06 meters, while Long won the silver medal with a jump of 7.87 meters. Despite their rivalry, Owens and Long became friends and remained friends until Long's death in 1943.
Five Questions about Jesse Owens and Luz Long
- What was Jesse Owens' nickname? Answer: "The Buckeye Bullet"
- What was Luz Long's nickname? Answer: "Der Springende Adler" (The Flying Eagle)
- What year did Jesse Owens compete in the Olympics? Answer: 1936
- What was the name of the stadium where Jesse Owens competed in the Olympics? Answer: Olympic Stadium
- What event did Luz Long win the silver medal in? Answer: Long jump
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- Nike Women's Luz Long Zoom Pegasus Running Shoe
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