Berlin won the 1936 Olympics bid over Barcelona two years before the Nazis took power. After the Los Angeles Olympics were a resounding success in 1932 Adolf Hitler was determined to outdo the Americans, expanding facilities construction - and commissioning filmaker Leni Riefenstahl to to film the games.
Her film, Olympia, pioneered much of how we now see sports being captured on film even today. This week Mente Atleta posted exceptional footage from it of Ohio State and Olympic legend Jesse Owens' path to the 100m gold medal:
100m Olympic Games, Berlin 1936100m Olympic Games, Berlin 1936 Jesse Owens - Metcalfe Un poco de deporte en el recuerdo...Que lo disfruten! www.facebook.com/groups/MenteAtleta
Posted by Mente Atleta on Wednesday, January 6, 2016
While Owens did not ride off into the sunset following his Olympic triumph his impact on the Games and on Ohio State is still felt today. OSU's Male Athlete of the Year award is named for him. He was named the all-time Greatest Ohioan in the 11W Heart of it All Classic.
An Owens biopic using the 1936 Games as a centerpiece is due out next month (trailer here) on what will be the 80th anniversary of the 11th Olympiad. In the race footage captured above, Owens beats out 1935's World's Fastest Human and personal friend Ralph Metcalfe as well as soccer star and future war crimes-committer Martinus Osendarp for the gold.
Owens finished his Ohio State career with 8 individual NCAA championships to go with his 4 Olympic gold medals.
