This is an autobiographical account of Jesse Owens experience of true friendship at

the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Adolf Hitler at the time was preparing with his athletes
to prove the supremacy of the Aryan race. Jesse being an African-American had plans
to win a medal or two to prove Hitler's theory wrong with his six-year long
meticulous training. Having set a record of 26 feet 8-1/4 inches at in running
board jump at his university, everyone expected Jesse to win easily.

But at the board jump trials, he was taken aback to see a German athlete, Luz Long
hitting almost 26-feet at the practice leaps. After coming to know that Hitler had
kept Luz under wraps, hoping to win the jump with him, Jesse was even more
determined to succeed. Jesse fouled the first two leaps by taking off from several
inches beyond the line. As he kicked the ground in out of frustration, he felt a
hand on his shoulder. The friendly bilue-eyed German rival, Luz Long Offered Jesse
a handshake and encouraged him to leap from a few inches back of the board. Luz
Long's tip eventually helped Jesse qualify for the finals. Jesse accounts meeting
luz long that night and thanking him as they talked about themselves, Sports, and
the world situation among other things.

It is then that Jesse came to know about Luz's disapproval of Hitler's Aryan
supremacist theory. They became good friends and Luz really wanted Jesse to do his
best, even if that meant Jesse's victory. Luz broke his own past record and
inspired Jesse to do his best during the finals. When Jesse landed from his final 3
jump, Luz was the first man there to congratulate him, shaking his hands, knowing
the fact that Hitler way watching them from the stands, displaying true
sportsmanship. Jesse went on to win four gold-medals that year but the greatest
olympic prize he won was Luz Long's friendship. They stayed friends even after the
olympics until Luz long passed away during world War II. According to Pierre de
Couberlin, founder of modern Olympic games, taking part ❗and❗ fighting well is more
important than winning and conquering. Jesse adds that Luz was the perfect example
of the sportsmanship that Pierre de Couberlin had in mind.