Arif Jamal asked 7 years ago
What does the author consider as his greatest Olympic prize in Owens’ story with the same name?
In his autobiographical account “My Greatest Olympic Prize”, Jesse Owens confesses that the German athlete Luz Long’s friendship was the greatest Olympic prize to him.
Though Jesse won four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics 1936, Luz Long was the man who encouraged Jesse when he was undergoing frustration and mental agony. Luz helped him qualify for the finals by giving him valuable tips. They shared their thoughts and became good friends. And what was most striking, Luz Long showed genuine happiness when Jesse won the gold medal. Luz Long was an epitome of the true sportsmanship and true friendship. That is why Jesse felt that Luz’s friendship was the greatest Olympic prize he had won.
The 24 carat friendship between Jesse Owens and Luz Long was considered as the “Greatest Olympic Price” because even though Hitler was staring continuously at Luz Long, he did not mind to have a hard handshake with Jesse Owens for his victory.
According to Jesse Owens the greatest Olympic prize is the unbreakable friendship between him and Luz Long who died unfortunately in World War 2.