Mutual Help and Care - Yilin

Author: Xiaoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In 1936 Berlin, Hitler declared the Olympic Games open to 120,000 spectators. He aimed to prove the superiority of the Aryan race by using the world's attention on the Olympics. At that time, the best athlete in track and field was Jesse Owens from the United States. However, Germany had a top long jumper named Luz Long. Hitler wanted him to defeat the Black Jesse Owens to prove his racial superiority theory: race determines superiority. Amid the Nazi newspapers' consistent calls to expel Black athletes from the Olympics, Jesse Owens participated in four events: the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 meters relay, and long jump. The long jump was his event. Hitler attended the competition in person. Luz Long smoothly advanced to the finals. It was Jesse Owens' turn. He only needed to jump no less than half a meter shorter than his best performance to qualify for the finals. On his first attempt, he fouled by failing to clear the board; on his second attempt, he took off from behind the board for safety, resulting in a terrible performance he had never seen before. He kept trying, hesitating, and dared not take the final leap. Hitler stood up and left the stadium. As Hitler left, a thin, blue-eyed Aryan German athlete approached Jesse Owens. He introduced himself in halting English. In fact, he didn’t need to introduce himself—nobody didn’t recognize him, Luz Long. Luz Long’s stammering English and toothy smile relaxed Jesse Owens’ tense nerves. Luz Long told Jesse Owens that the most important thing was to qualify for the finals. He said he had encountered a similar situation last year and used a small trick to solve the problem. It was indeed a small trick—he placed Jesse Owens’ towel a few inches behind the take-off board. By jumping from that spot, he wouldn’t veer off too much. Jesse Owens followed his advice and almost broke the Olympic record. A few days later, in the finals, Luz Long broke the world record, but Jesse Owens won with a narrow margin. Hitler’s face turned livid in the VIP section, and the enthusiastic crowd in the stands suddenly fell silent. On the field, Luz Long ran to where Jesse Owens stood and pulled him to the front of the stands filled with 120,000 Germans, raising his hand and shouting loudly, “Jesse Owens! Jesse Owens! Jesse Owens!” After a tense silence, the crowd suddenly erupted in a chorus, “Jesse Owens! Jesse Owens! Jesse Owens!” Jesse Owens raised his other hand in gratitude. Once the crowd settled, he raised Luz Long’s hand toward the sky and roared, “Luz Long! Luz Long! Luz Long!” The entire crowd responded in unison, “Luz Long! Luz Long! Luz Long!” Without political manipulation, without racial superiority, without the pursuit of gold medals, both athletes and spectators were immersed in the dignity of fair competition. Jesse Owens’ record of 8.06 meters stood for 24 years. He won four gold medals at that Olympics and was hailed as one of the greatest athletes in the world. Years later, Jesse Owens recalled that Luz Long helped him win those four gold medals and taught him that simple, caring human love was the true, timeless spirit of an athlete. Though his world record would eventually be broken by future stars, this athletic spirit would never fade. P2-3