Triumph : the untold story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics

Day to remember -- Out of Alabama -- Vincible -- Heelbones and a new start -- Judge and the millionaire -- "We are with you, Adolf" -- Blessing in disguise -- Jew kills Nazi -- Friend and a foe felled -- Olympic trials -- Olympia -- Belle of the ball -- Battle tent of some great emperor -- Youth of the world -- Day one -- Day two -- Day three -- He flies like the Hindenburg -- Relay.;In 1936, against a backdrop of swastikas flying and storm troopers looming, an African-American son of sharecroppers set three world records and won an unprecedented four gold medals, single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. The story of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games is that of a high-profile athlete giving a performance that transcends sports - but it is also the intimate and complex tale of the courage of one remarkable man. From the start, American participation in the games was controversial - a boycott attempt was thwarted by the president of the American Olympic Committee. Owens was befriended by a German rival, who helped Owens win the gold medal at his own expense; two Jewish sprinters were, at the last moment, denied the chance to compete for the United States out of misguided politeness to the Nazi hosts; and a myth was born that Hitler himself had snubbed Owens. In 1936, against a backdrop of swastikas flying and storm troopers goose-stepping, an African-American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four Olympic gold medals and single-handedly crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. The story of Jesse Owens at the 1936 games is that of a high-profile athlete giving a performance that transcends sports. But it is also the intimate and complex tale of the courage of one remarkable man. Drawing on access to the Owens family, previously unpublished interviews, and exhaustive archival research, Jeremy Schaap transports us to Nazi Germany to weave this dramatic tale. From the start, American participation in the 1936 games was controversial. A boycott was afoot, based on reports of Nazi hostility to Jews, but was thwarted by the president of the American Olympic Committee, who dismissed the actions of the Third Reich as irrelevant. At the games themselves the subplots and intrigue continued: Owens was befriended by a German rival, broad jumper Luz Long, who, legend has it, helped Owens win the gold medal at his own expense. Two Jewish sprinters were denied the chance to compete for the United States at the last possible moment, most likely out of misguided deference to the Nazi hosts. And a myth was born that Hitler had snubbed Owens by failing to congratulate him. Schaap reveals what really transpired over those tense, exhilarating few weeks some seventy years ago. In the end, Triumph illuminates what happens when sports and geopolitics collide on a world stage. In 1936, Against A Backdrop Of Swastikas Flying And Storm Troopers Looming, An African-american Son Of Sharecroppers Set Three World Records And Won An Unprecedented Four Gold Medals, Single-handedly Crushing Hitler's Myth Of Aryan Supremacy. The Story Of Jesse Owens At The 1936 Olympic Games Is That Of A High-profile Athlete Giving A Performance That Transcends Sports--but It Is Also The Intimate And Complex Tale Of The Courage Of One Remarkable Man. From The Start, American Participation In The Games Was Controversial--a Boycott Attempt Was Thwarted By The President Of The American Olympic Committee. Owens Was Befriended By A German Rival, Who Helped Owens Win The Gold Medal At His Own Expense; Two Jewish Sprinters Were, At The Last Moment, Denied The Chance To Compete For The United States Out Of Misguided Politeness To The Nazi Hosts; And A Myth Was Born That Hitler Himself Had Snubbed Owens.--from Publisher Description. Prologue -- A Day To Remember -- Out Of Alabama -- Vincible -- Heel Bones And A New Start -- The Judge And The Millionaire -- We Are With You, Adolf -- A Blessing In Disguise -- Jew Kills Nazi -- A Friend And A Foe Felled -- Olympic Trials -- Olympia -- The Belle Of The Ball -- The Battle Tent Of Some Great Emperor -- The Youth Of The World -- Day One -- Day Two -- Day Three -- He Flies Like The Hindenburg -- The Relay -- Epilogue. Jeremy Schaap. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [237]-256) And Index. This New York Times–bestselling author’s account of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin offers a “vivid portrait not just of Owens but of ’30s Germany and America” (Sports Illustrated). At the 1936 Olympics, against a backdrop of swastikas and goose-stepping storm troopers, an African American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four gold medals, single-handedly falsifying Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy. The story of Jesse Owens at the Berlin games is that of an athletic performance that transcends sports. It is also the intimate and complex tale of one remarkable man’s courage. Drawing on unprecedented access to the Owens family, previously unpublished interviews, and archival research, Jeremy Schaap transports us to Germany and tells the dramatic tale of Owens and his fellow athletes at the contest dubbed the Nazi Olympics. With incisive reporting and rich storytelling, Schaap reveals what really happened over those tense, exhilarating weeks in a “snappy and dramatic” work of sports history (Publishers Weekly). “A remarkable job of tackling a complex subject and bringing it to life.” —John Feinstein “Add[s] even more luster to the indelibly heroic achievements of Jesse Owens.” —Ken Burns This New York Times –bestselling author’s account of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin offers a “vivid portrait not just of Owens but of ’30s Germany and America” ( Sports Illustrated ). At the 1936 Olympics, against a backdrop of swastikas and goose-stepping storm troopers, an African American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four gold medals, single-handedly falsifying Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy. The story of Jesse Owens at the Berlin games is that of an athletic performance that transcends sports. It is also the intimate and complex tale of one remarkable man’s courage. Drawing on unprecedented access to the Owens family, previously unpublished interviews, and archival research, Jeremy Schaap transports us to Germany and tells the dramatic tale of Owens and his fellow athletes at the contest dubbed the Nazi Olympics. With incisive reporting and rich storytelling, Schaap reveals what really happened over those tense, exhilarating weeks in a “snappy and dramatic” work of sports history ( Publishers Weekly ). “A remarkable job of tackling a complex subject and bringing it to life.” —John Feinstein “Add[s] even more luster to the indelibly heroic achievements of Jesse Owens.” —Ken Burns At the 1936 Olympics, against a backdrop of swastikas and goose-stepping storm troopers, an African-American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four gold medals and single-handedly demonstrated that Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy was a lie. The story of Jesse Owens at the Berlin games is that of an athletic performance that transcends sports. It is also the intimate and complex tale of one remarkable man's courage. Drawing on unprecedented access to the Owens family, previously unpublished interviews, and exhaustive archival research, Jeremy Schaap transports us to Germany and tells the dramatic tale of Owens and his fellow athletes at the contest dubbed the Nazi Olympics. With his incisive reporting and rich storytelling, Schaap reveals what really happened over those tense, exhilarating weeks in a nuanced and riveting work of sports history As hosts of the summer Olympics of 1936, Nazi Germany would open its doors to a world divided between admiration and horror. No one was more aware of this than the Fuhrer himself. Hitler was determined these games would promote his regime, but a young American athlete threatened to ruin his plan. Jesse Owens, the 22-year-old son of African-American sharecroppers, had been building a reputation for himself as a formidable athlete. He went on to win four gold medals, demonstrating better than any politican could the flaws in Hitler's racist beliefs. This is the incredible story of one of the most iconic clashes in sports and world history.