In 1936, Hitler’s Nazi party was only beginning to rise to power in Germany. To mark the beginning of a new era of politics and the end of Germany’s post-World-War I humiliation, the country was to host the Olympic Games.

Hitler’s plan was to use the games as a staging post for “Aryan superiority” and the German team was made up of an Aryan-only grouping. The stage was set and Hitler was prepared to show his racism to the world, but one thing stood in his way.

A True American Hero


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Let’s not pretend that it was easy to be a black man in America in the 1930’s, but a young man had broken through the racial divide in America and he had caught the nation’s attention during his time as a student at East Technical High School in Cleveland.

What had he done? He had equaled the world 100-yard dash (later to be replaced as an event by the 100 meters) record at 9.4 seconds and then jumped over seven-and-a-half meters at the National High School Championship in 1933.

Jesse Owens Announces Himself To The World In 1935


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The young man breaking records was Jesse Owens, and he was to go on to attend Ohio State University where he became known as the “Buckeye Bullet.”

In May 1935, Jesse Owens broke three world records at a single meet at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The records were for the long jump, 220-yard sprint, and the 220-yard low hurdles. His long jump record, set that day, would stand for 25 years.

That day in May is often considered the finest athletic performance of all time by any one individual.

Berlin Beckons


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Jesse Owens was beseeched by many people not to attend the games in Berlin at all. They felt that all he could do by appearing was endorse a racist and rogue regime. They saw no upside to a black man appearing for a white maniac to taunt and bully.

But Avery Brundage, the President of the American Olympic Committee, was not swayed by the arguments for withdrawal. He called the concept “un-American” and the team all went to Berlin, including Owens.

There, Jesse Owens would put Hitler’s dream of an Aryan dominated Olympic games to the sword.

There was no stopping Jesse Owens. He won the 100-meter sprint with a time of 10.3 seconds. Then he took the gold in the long jump with a leap of 8.06 meters. Next, he sped home in first place in the 200-meter sprint. Finally, he took gold in the men’s 4 x 100 meters relay.

How Did Hitler React?


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Many believe that Hitler snubbed Owens and refused to shake his hand for his wins. This appears to be untrue and Hitler’s car was simply delayed in traffic preventing him from arriving at the podium on time.

However, this didn’t stop Owens from coming face-to-face with The Fuhrer later that day. A witness described the moment, “And then…wonder of wonders…[sic] I saw Herr Adolph Hitler, salute this lad. I looked on with a heart which beat proudly as the lad who was crowned king of the 100 meters event, get an ovation the like of which I have never heard before. I saw Jesse Owens greeted by the Grand Chancellor of this country as a brilliant sun peeped out through the clouds. I saw a vast crowd of some 85,000 or 90,000 people stand up and cheer him to the echo.”

The Twist In The Tale

In fact, the only racism Owens encountered at the Olympics in 1936 was from his own team. He was refused entry through the main door of the Waldorf Astoria to the party which was held to honor his achievements. He had to enter via the service entrance and travel up to to the floor in a tradesman’s elevator.

Owens said of his time in Berlin, “Some people say Hitler snubbed me. But I tell you, Hitler did not snub me. I am not knocking the President. Remember, I am not a politician, but remember that the President did not send me a message of congratulations because, people said, he was too busy.”