One of the United States most famous Olympians is Jesse Owens. Owens competed in the 1936 summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Jesse single-handedly frustrated Adolf Hitler with his athletic prowess. Hitler disliked black athletes and felt they were inferior to Arians. Hitler was hoping that the 1936 Olympics would prove him right. Jesse Owens stunning victories and achievement of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin has made him the best remembered of all Olympic athletes. Fast and fierce, Jesse Owens sprinted his way into the history books and his story continues to inspire many today.

Jesse Owens main event was the Long Jump. But Owens was having trouble with that event in Berlin. In the qualifying rounds, he missed two times. The first time, he thought he was just taking a practice jump, but the official counted it as one of his three actual attempts to qualify. On his second attempt, he misjudged the takeoff spot and fouled again. One more miss, and he would be eliminated from competition. His main competitor was a German named Lutz Long, the only jumper there with a reasonable shot at beating Owens.

It was just then that Lutz Long walked over to Jesse Owens and chatted with him for a few moments. “Something must be bothering you,” Long said. “You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed. Owens explained that he had not realized that his first jump counted as a qualifying attempt. That had so rattled him that he overcompensated in his second jump.

Long said, “Since the distance you need to qualify isn’t that difficult, make a mark about a foot before you reach the foul line. Use that as your jump-off point. That way you won’t foul.”

Jesse did just that. He used his foot to dig a mark in the grass about a foot short of the foul line, and he used that as his jump-off spot. He qualified that time with a couple of feet to spare.

Later that afternoon, Jesse Owens and Lutz Long went head-to-head in competition. It was nip-and-tuck to the end, but Jesse Owens prevailed winning the gold medal. Hitler reportedly scowled, when his German competitor Lutz Long ran over and threw his arms around him in congratulations. Years later, Jesse Owens talked about that moment, and he said, “You could melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t match the 24-carat friendship I felt for Lutz Long at that moment.”

The two men became good friends and stayed in touch, even during World War II when the two nations were locked in a terrible war with each other. Lutz was a lieutenant in the German Army, but he wrote to Owens and said, “I hope we can always remain best of friends despite the differences between our countries.”

It was the last communication the two of them ever shared, for just a few days later, Lutz was killed in battle. But the story doesn’t end there. Years later, Owens received a letter from Lutz Long’s son, who was then 22-years old and getting married. The letter said, “Even though my father can’t be here to be my best man, I know who he would want in his place. He would want someone that he and his entire family admired and respected. He would want you to take his place. And I do, too.”

And Jesse Owens flew to Germany to be the best man at the wedding of the son of his former arch competitor and rival.

What a powerful story and what a powerful statement made by Owens that friendship was more important than medals. Proverbs 14:20 says, "The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends." There is a richness that is enjoyed when someone has good friends. Jesse Owens learned that in the 1936 Olympics and it was worth more than gold.

Pastor Tim