| Description |
xv, 272 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [237]-256) and index. |
| Contents |
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. |
| Summary |
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. |
| Subject |
Owens, Jesse, 1913-1980.
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Track and field athletes -- United States -- Biography.
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African American athletes -- Biography.
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Jewish athletes -- United States -- Biography.
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Glickman, Marty, 1917-2001.
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Stoller, Sam, 1915-1983.
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Olympics -- Participation, American.
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Olympic Games (11th : 1936 : Berlin, Germany)
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National socialism -- Philosophy.
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Racism -- Germany -- History -- 20th century.
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| ISBN |
9780618688227 alkaline paper |
|
0618688226 alkaline paper |
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