A TRUE SPORTSMAN

It was in the final of Long Jump event on August 4th 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Jesse Owens and Lutz Long each were competing for Gold medal.Jesse Owens was regarded the favourite having already won a gold medal the day before in 100m sprint.But Jesse Owens fouled his first two jumps although he jumped much longer than his opponents.He was very much depressed with this act of his.Then Lutz Long came to the rescue of Jesse Owens and adviced him to jump just two inches behind the line ,risking his Gold medal otherwise which Long could have easily won it.Jesse Owens heeded to Long's advice and went on to win the Gold Medal.Lutz Long had to satisfy for Silver.

Lutz Long displayed a true sportsman spirit denying himself a Gold Medal which could have easily been part of him.Lutz Long,being a German,got himself in the wrong books of Adolf Hitler by not winning the Gold medal who wanted Germans' command over the Olympics.Many modern day sportsman should take cue from this great sportsman in maintaining the spirit of sportsmanship as they are always seen in verbal abuse on and off field with their opponents.

This is what Jesse Owens had to say of Lutz Long
"It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Lutz Long at that moment."

Lutz Long was Posthumously awarded Pierre de Coubertin medal which is awarded for "Spirit of Sportsmanship".