ICSE Class 10 Poems and Short Stories My Greatest Olympic Prize (Jesse Owens)

Synopsis

This chapter is based on a real-life experience of James Cleveland who is also known as Jesse Owens. He is an American athlete who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games that were held in Berlin, Germany. Owens did not come from a very strong background, but he happened to achieve what no other athlete had achieved before. His achievement has made him the best-remembered athlete in Olympic history. He specialised in the sprints and in the long jump. He managed to crush Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy. During a time of deep-rooted individual segregation, he not only discredited Hitler’s master race theory but also affirmed that individual excellence rather than race or national origin distinguishes one man from another.
This story is an illustration of true sportsman spirit and friendship. Competitions are not just about winning but about participating with a positive spirit.
A journey of an athlete starts way before the competition, and it was the same for Jesse Owens too. He had begun his training for these games six years before they took place.
In the summer of 1936, the Olympic Games were held in Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler thought this is an opportunity for him to show that his country is better than any other. He wanted to prove that his Aryan race was the most superior. He thus had insisted that since his athletes were members of a ‘master race’, the games must be held in Berlin. This had spread a nationalistic feeling among all the participants. The games symbolise that athletes all over the world come together and participate. Therefore, inculcating such thoughts about one race being above others was not appropriate. Owens did not care much about Hitler’s theory. A year before, in 1935, he broke three world records in Michigan. He was well prepared for this competition.
It was undoubtful that Owens was prepared for the competition. He was confident that he would win. He was thinking about carrying home a few gold medals. He believed in himself and his struggle in the past years to prepare himself. As Jesse went onto the field, he saw a tall German practising for the same 26-range long jump category. He was surprised to see this athlete as he was not expecting any competition in this category of long jump. Hitler had statistically kept this German player hidden till the day of the trials.
On seeing this German athlete, Jesse Owens got very nervous. He knew that it was Hitler's tactic to undermine other players, but this had put a lot of pressure on Owens. He was tall, blue-eyed and an inch taller than Jesse Owens. He had a lean muscular body. He easily qualified for the finals right in his first attempt. This German player was Luz Long.
Owens’ mind was preoccupied with all sorts of thoughts about this German athlete. Thinking of all this when Jesse entered the field, his focus had changed. His focus was more on defeating the German athlete, going against Hitler's racial superiority and bringing down the nationalistic feelings. He was angry and did not have his complete concentration on his game. This anger became a big mistake because he fouled on his first jump in the trials.
He had lost one of the three chances as he jumped ahead from the take-off point. It was further disappointing because Jesse fouled in his second attempt too. He was frustrated and angry because he did not come so far to not even be able to participate. He could have lost the entire series for not having qualified in the trials. He would have not been able to even qualify for the main games.
Jesse was completely disappointed with himself and he kicked the dirt a few yards away from the pit. Luz Long sensed that Jesse was making a mistake. He walked up to Jesse and shook his hand. Owens knew that Long had qualified for the trials. He was trying to hide his nervousness while Long was talking to him. Initially, Long tried to talk casually to Owens and relaxed him. However, Long made a strange remark as he told Jesse that something must be eating him as he would have qualified easily. Luz understood what had been troubling Jesse and reassured him that there is nothing like Aryan supremacy. Soon they both were laughing and sharing pleasantries.
Jesse was now relaxed. Long suggested that he make a start-off line a little before the take-off point. This advice made a lot of sense and helped Jesse in his game.
In the third attempt, after following Luz's advice, Jesse qualified for the trials. He walked down to Luz's room to thank him, for now, he could participate in the finals. Both of them spent time laughing and talking to each other. A beautiful bond had been formed between the two. They were competitors the next day. Both would play the game and try to win but none wanted the other to lose. They did not want to pull each other down but wanted to give their best performance. They valued the importance and the spirit of the sport. They shared the true spirit of sportsmanship with each other.
Luz Long broke his past record the next day. He compelled Jesse to give his best and he won. He set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 5/16 inches. Immediately, he saw Long by his side to congratulate him. Both shook hands and Jesse knew that it was not a fake smile that Luz passed at him. Long was genuinely happy for him even though Hitler looked at the two of them angrily.
Jesse says that he did not just win the game but he also earned a friend for life. This friendship was more worthy to him than the Olympic record he had created that day. Jesse learnt a crucial lesson what the founder of the Olympic Games must have had in mind.
This story teaches us that it is important to play fair and respect the true spirit and essence of the sport.

Short answer questions

1. Which games are referred to here and who is the protagonist?
   Ans. The Olympic Games which were held in the summer of 1936 in Berlin, Germany, is referred to in the extract. Jesse Owens is the protagonist. This story describes a valuable lesson learnt by the protagonist.
   
   
2. Why was Owens surprised?
   Ans. Owens had been striving hard in his sport category. He was not expecting any competition. He was startled to see the tall German athlete Luz Long. It was said that Hitler had kept him under wraps, evidently hoping to win the long jump with him.
   
   
3. Why were nationalistic feelings high during the Olympic Games?
   Ans. Nationalistic feelings were high during the 1936 Berlin Olympics because of Hitler’s Aryan superiority theory. Hitler believed that Germans were the purest in the human race, and therefore, they were entitled to win beating all the others. This affected and irritated other participants of the Olympic Games.
   
   
4. What was the theory of Aryan supremacy?
   Ans. Hitler believed in the theory of Aryan supremacy. According to him, the Germans were the purest stock of Aryans and were meant to be the purest race in all of humanity.
   
   
5. How did Owens perform in his trials?
   Ans. Jesse Owens’ focus was diverted after he observed the German athlete Luz Long. Despite knowing that anger spoils the spirit of an athlete, Owens was hot-headed by Hitler’s theory. His mind was preoccupied with many emotions apart from winning the game. As a result, he fouled in his first two attempts jumping beyond the start-off line.
   
   
6. What did Owens do the night he qualified?
   Ans. Owens qualified for the finals with the help of Luz Long. He gave him a piece of advice which helped him get through the trials after he fouled in the first two attempts. Jesse went to Luz’s room that night to thank him. Long not only greeted him well but also hosted him for two hours, and thus, both of them became good friends despite being competitors in the Olympic Games.
   
   
7. How did Luz and Owens perform in the finals?
   Ans. In the finals, Luz broke his own past record, and in doing so, he pushed Jesse Owens on to peak performance. Owens set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 5/16 inches, beating Luz Long.
   
   
8. What is the true spirit of the Olympic Games as per Coubertin?
   Ans. Luz Long was a man of pure and genuine heart and soul. He represented the best example of Coubertin’s message that the important thing at the Olympic Games was not winning but taking part and giving one’s best performance. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.

Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the character sketch of Jesse Owens.
   Ans. Jesse Owens was an American track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1936 games. He appears to be a calm and relaxed athlete in the beginning. He thought he would take home one or two gold medals. He had set his eyes on winning the gold in the long jump. He was confident of it because he had trained, sweated and disciplined himself for six years in order to participate in the same, and moreover, everyone expected him to win that Olympic event hands down because just a year before, as a sophomore at the Ohio State University, he had set the world record at 26 feet 8 1/4 inches.
   However, feelings of anger and hatred overcame him when he witnessed Luz Long and Hitler’s Aryan supremacy theory. This reveals Jesse’s short-tempered nature.
   Owens was given a piece of advice by Luz Long which helped him qualify for the trials. He showed his gratitude towards Long by visiting his room that night to thank him. This shows that Owens respected his gesture and also understood the spirit of the Olympic Games. He was a warm-hearted person who weighted friendship more than the competitive spirit. He was also a man of emotions as he said that his friendship with Luz Long was more worthy than the medals and cups he had won.
   
   
2. Describe the character of the German athlete Luz Long.
   Ans. Luz Long was a blue-eyed, tall German athlete. He was an inch taller than Jesse Owens. He had a lean muscular body, blonde hair and was astonishingly handsome. His face was as though it was carved perfectly with a chisel. This German athlete is the epitome of true sportsmanship. Luz, though an opponent of Jesse Owens, was a true guide and friend to him. When Owens overcome by anger fouled in the long jump trials, Long, realising his potential, counselled him. He offered him a firm handshake, calmed him down and advised him to draw a line a few inches behind the board and aim at making his take-off from there. He gave Owens a lifelong lesson that ‘tomorrow is what counts’. Although Long was initially looked at by Owens as a proponent of Hitler’s master race, it was not so. Luz respected Owens and considered him as his equal.
   When Owens went to Long’s room on the night of the trials to thank him, he welcomed him and attended to him for two hours. This shows that fair play and the love of sport was far more important for Luz. The next day, when Owens won the gold, Long was the first to congratulate him. He did not consider himself superior to Owens in any way and despite Hitler’s glare, he heartily complimented him. Luz thus was not only a friend, guide and support to Owens but an exemplary sportsperson.
   
   
3. How does this story display the spirit of true sportsmanship?
   Ans. Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sports activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect and a sense of fellowship with one’s competitor. My Greatest Olympic Prize depicts how German athlete Luz Long exhibited the true spirit of sportsmanship by being friendly and motivating to his competitor Jesse Owens. Owens has described the incident of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He showcased the true and honest friendship formed between him and German athlete Luz Long. When Luz Long saw Owens making fouls, he acted as a true guide and friend. He did not act as a rival but helped him qualify for the long jump finals in the 1936 Olympic Games. In the finals, Jesse Owens won and secured gold medals, but the friendship he formed with Luz Long was what he calls his greatest Olympic Prize and considered it 24-carat pure.
   
   
4. How has Owens focused on friendship over the competition?
   OR
   What is referred to as 24-carat friendship in this story?
   Ans. Jesse Owens has elaborated on his experience at the Olympic Games. He has showcased the honest and genuine bond formed between him and his competitor Luz Long.
   A true and real friendship between Owens and Luz burgeoned during the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics. When Owens almost failed to qualify for the finals, Luz spoke to him encouragingly and gave him a tip that helped him to qualify. He did not act as a rival but understood Owens’ condition and guided him. He encouraged fair play. Later that night, when Owens thanked Luz, they bonded and spoke for a lot of time.
   This act of Luz eventually made Owens’ win the medal and set a record. Moreover, Luz was genuinely happy when Owens’ won the gold medal and he was the first one at his side to congratulate him. Despite the fact that Hitler glared at them from the stands, not even a hundred yards away, Luz shook Owens’ hand and it wasn’t one with a fake smile–broken heart sort of grip. He was not disappointed with himself but happy for Owens.
   This reflects that both of them valued friendship more than the competition understanding the true spirit of the games.
   
   
5. How was Luz’s behaviour different from other Germans?
   Ans. Jesse did not tell Luz Long about his trouble, but he seemed to understand Jesse’s anger. Long tried to ease the situation by explaining that he did not believe in Aryan supremacy, and when Jesse calmed down, he suggested that he draw a line a few inches behind the board and aim at taking off from that line. He assured him that he would never foul from that point.
   
   
6. In what way did Hitler try to publicise his theory of Aryan supremacy? What was its impact?
   Ans. ‘My Greatest Olympic Prize’ is a short story describing Jesse Owens’ experience at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He has successfully described the true spirit of the Olympic Games and how he found a friend for life in Luz Long who was his competitor in the games.
   Hitler believed in the theory of Aryan supremacy—the Germans were the purest in the human race. They were therefore better in all possible ways from people of other ethnicities.
   Hitler secretly kept the German athlete Luz Long under wraps hoping to win the long jump with him. Hitler did this strategically to build pressure on the rival teams and to demotivate them. By doing so, he thought that it would be an easy victory for his players. This would also help him in publicising the theory of Aryan supremacy.
   Luz Long was commendable in his performance, but he did not win the match. Jesse Owens who was upset in the beginning at the sudden appearance of Long finally won the match. This left Hitler disappointed and his theory of Aryan superiority in shreds. Hitler succeeded in publicising the theory of Aryan supremacy, but his propaganda failed when he could not prove that his theory was correct. Owens who was black and did not agree with the theory crushed Hitler’s arrogance by winning four gold medals in the same Olympic Games.
   Luz Long who was a German and an Aryan did not believe in this theory. He helped Jesse when he was not able to qualify in the trials, and he shook hands with Jesse after he won the gold medal in the long jump ignoring Hitler's glare. This shows that the Aryan supremacy theory could not impress even the Germans who were Hitler's own people.
   
   
7. What was the effect on Owens after he saw Long?
   Ans. Hitler had kept his strong athlete hidden for a very long time. Owens was not expecting any competition for his category. He was startled to see this tall athlete. Jesse Owens was hot under the collar as he did not approve of Hitler’s Nazi way which boasted of Aryan supremacy. He was angry because of the racial prejudices meted out to his community. The speaker was determined to go out on the field and he intended to show Der Führer and his master race who was superior and who wasn’t. He wanted to uproot the individual segregation according to Hitler’s theory of a master race. Moreover, being a Negro and the grandson of a slave, he wanted to prove Hitler wrong by winning a gold medal in the Olympic Games. The feeling of hatred and anger overcame the speaker in the first of his two qualifying jumps. Owens leapt from several inches beyond the take-off board which was a foul. On the second jump, he fouled even worse.
   
   
8. What was the most important lesson given by Luz to Jesse?
   Ans. Although Jesse Owen’s full concentration was on his game and on winning the gold medal, he got distracted after seeing Luz Long’s performance. He thought that if Luz won, it would add support to Nazi’s Aryan superiority theory. He got irritated thinking about this, was filled with anger and fouled twice in the qualifying jumps. His attitude had a bad impact on his game (fouling in the final qualifying jumps) and this was eating him up.
   The mistake of making fouls twice was rectified with the help of Luz Long’s fruitful advice. He suggested Owens to draw a line a few inches behind the board and aim at taking off from that line. His advice reassured Owens and helped him qualify in the men’s long jump without fouling.
   
   
9. What was Jesse’s greatest Olympic prize?
   Ans. In the finals of the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, Luz broke his own past record. He also pushed Jesse Owens to perform better in order to beat that record. Owens set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 5/16 inches, beating Luz Long. Luz was at Owens’ side and congratulated him. Despite the fact that Hitler glared at them from the stands, Luz shook Owen’s hand hard and it wasn’t one with a sort of grip which accompanies a fake smile with a broken heart. He was genuinely happy when Owens won the gold medal. Long congratulated him on his victory without feeling any hatred or jealously. Long’s selflessness proved that he was an epitome of goodness and true sportsmanship. This is the true spirit of the games. Long’s friendship and being congratulated by him was of greater value to Owens than the gold medal, and hence, Owens refers to it as his greatest prize.
   
   
10. Anger affects one’s performance. Justify this statement.
    Ans. Jesse Owens had been preparing and training himself for the Olympic Games. He was sure of winning some medals. He developed a feeling of anger when he came across Hitler’s theory of Aryan supremacy. Hitler’s beliefs that Germans were the purest Aryans and his way of demotivating others occupied Jesse’s mind. His feeling was further aggravated when he saw Luz Long, a German athlete, who was kept secret by Hitler. Luz qualified in the trials in his first attempt. However, since all these feelings preoccupied Owens’ mind, his complete focus was not in winning the game. His anger affected his performance, and as a result, he fouled in his first attempt. Anger does not bode well for an athlete as it distracts focus. The same happened with Jesse in the second attempt too. He fouled in his second attempt by jumping beyond the start-off line. However, he was able to qualify after Luz gave him a piece of advice.