It was the summer of 1936.
It
was
the
summer
of
1936
.
The Olympic Games were being held in Berlin.
The
Olympic
Games
were
being
held
in
Berlin
.
I had trained, sweated and disciplined myself for 6 years on the running broad jump.
I
had
trained
,
sweated
and
disciplined
myself
for
6
years
on
the
running
broad
jump
.
A year before, as a college student at the Ohio State, I'd set the world's record of 26 feet 8 1/4 inches.
A
year
before
,
as
a
college
student
at
the
Ohio
State
,
I
'd
set
the
world
's
record
of
26
feet
8
1/4
inches
.
Nearly everyone expected me to win.
Nearly
everyone
expected
me
to
win
.
I was in for a surprise.
I
was
in
for
a
surprise
.
When the time came for the broad-jump trials, I was shocked to see a tall boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps.
When
the
time
came
for
the
broad-jump
trials
,
I
was
shocked
to
see
a
tall
boy
hitting
the
pit
at
almost
26
feet
on
his
practice
leaps
.
He turned out to be a German named Luz Long.
He
turned
out
to
be
a
German
named
Luz
Long
.
He had easily qualified for the finals on his first attempt.
He
had
easily
qualified
for
the
finals
on
his
first
attempt
.
A nervous athlete is an athlete who will make mistakes.
A
nervous
athlete
is
an
athlete
who
will
make
mistakes
.
I fouled twice on my qualifying jumps.
I
fouled
twice
on
my
qualifying
jumps
.
Walking a few yards from the pit, I kicked at the dirt disgustedly.
Walking
a
few
yards
from
the
pit
,
I
kicked
at
the
dirt
disgustedly
.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Suddenly
I
felt
a
hand
on
my
shoulder
.
I turned to look into the friendly blue eyes of Luz Long.
I
turned
to
look
into
the
friendly
blue
eyes
of
Luz
Long
.
"Hi, I'm Luz Long.
``
Hi
,
I
'm
Luz
Long
.
I don't think we've met."
I
do
n't
think
we
've
met
.
''
"Glad to meet you," I said.
``
Glad
to
meet
you
,
''
I
said
.
Then, trying to hide my nervousness, I added, "How are you?"
Then
,
trying
to
hide
my
nervousness
,
I
added
,
``
How
are
you
?
''
"I'm fine.
``
I
'm
fine
.
Something must be eating you.
Something
must
be
eating
you
.
You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed."
You
should
be
able
to
qualify
with
your
eyes
closed
.
''
He said.
He
said
.
He seemed to understand my nervousness, and took pains to reassure me.
He
seemed
to
understand
my
nervousness
,
and
took
pains
to
reassure
me
.
Finally, seeing that I had calmed down somewhat, he said, "What does it matter if you're not the first in the trials?
Finally
,
seeing
that
I
had
calmed
down
somewhat
,
he
said
,
``
What
does
it
matter
if
you
're
not
the
first
in
the
trials
?
Tomorrow is what counts."
Tomorrow
is
what
counts
.
''
All the tension left my body as the truth of what he said hit me.
All
the
tension
left
my
body
as
the
truth
of
what
he
said
hit
me
.
Confidently I qualified with almost a foot to spare.
Confidently
I
qualified
with
almost
a
foot
to
spare
.
Luz broke his own record and pushed me on to a peak performance.
Luz
broke
his
own
record
and
pushed
me
on
to
a
peak
performance
.
The instant I landed from my final jump--the one which set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 1/16 inches--he was at my side, congratulating me.
The
instant
I
landed
from
my
final
jump
--
the
one
which
set
the
Olympic
record
of
26
feet
5
1/16
inches
--
he
was
at
my
side
,
congratulating
me
.
It was the summer of 1936. The Olympic Games were being held in Berlin. I had trained, sweated and disciplined myself for 6 years on the running broad jump. A year before, as a college student at the Ohio State, I'd set the world's record of 26 feet 8 1/4 inches. Nearly everyone expected me to win.  I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the broad-jump trials, I was shocked to see a tall boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps. He turned out to be a German named Luz Long. He had easily qualified for the finals on his first attempt.  A nervous athlete is an athlete who will make mistakes. I fouled twice on my qualifying jumps. Walking a few yards from the pit, I kicked at the dirt disgustedly. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to look into the friendly blue eyes of Luz Long. "Hi, I'm Luz Long. I don't think we've met." "Glad to meet you," I said. Then, trying to hide my nervousness, I added, "How are you?" "I'm fine. Something must be eating you. You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed." He said.  He seemed to understand my nervousness, and took pains to reassure me. Finally, seeing that I had calmed down somewhat, he said, "What does it matter if you're not the first in the trials? Tomorrow is what counts." All the tension left my body as the truth of what he said hit me. Confidently I qualified with almost a foot to spare.  Luz broke his own record and pushed me on to a peak performance. The instant I landed from my final jump--the one which set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 1/16 inches--he was at my side, congratulating me.