Thanks Earl. Crazy to think that Noah Lyles also won by five-thousandths of a second in Paris last August. The only difference is that he waited 30 seconds for the result, while Eddie Tolan had to wait 30 minutes back in 1932!
Great story! It would be interesting to compare the history of why starting blocks...I suppose to stop people from digging holes in the track and then I wonder if that had an impact on starting blocks for swimming.
Thanks Seth. Yes, starting blocks made meets safer and faster without all the digging and refilling. There were competing models, the funniest of which were blocks for the hands created by Stanford coach Dink Templeton. Swimming blocks were not used until after LA32.
Great stuff Josh and a Milwaukee connection. Just shared it with some fellow high school track & field coaches. Looking forward to being in LA this weekend to watch my daughter run (and out of the brutal cold here in Wisconsin).
Thanks Manuel. Despite being the star of the Berlin Olympics, Jesse was suspended by the AAU for refusing to participate in a series of exhibition races after the Olympics--exhibitions for which he would have received zero compensation. As a result, he never raced on the amateur circuit again.
Prior to reading this, I had a long-held and misguided notion that the photo finish had first been used to decide horse races...well done, Mr. Hanna, for correcting this. Great story and amazing to learn more about these amazing sprinters and men.
Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, with gambling so intertwined with horse racing it was imperative they get the finishes right. But its use was, in fact, after the 1932 Olympics.
Thanks for rescuing these fascinating Olympic stories from the dustbins of history!
Thanks Ben. I'll keep them coming until LA28!
Fabulous article. Puts you right at the finish line of the closest race in history.
Love this stuff.
Thanks Earl. Crazy to think that Noah Lyles also won by five-thousandths of a second in Paris last August. The only difference is that he waited 30 seconds for the result, while Eddie Tolan had to wait 30 minutes back in 1932!
Great story! It would be interesting to compare the history of why starting blocks...I suppose to stop people from digging holes in the track and then I wonder if that had an impact on starting blocks for swimming.
Thanks Seth. Yes, starting blocks made meets safer and faster without all the digging and refilling. There were competing models, the funniest of which were blocks for the hands created by Stanford coach Dink Templeton. Swimming blocks were not used until after LA32.
Love this story!
The picture of Eddie Tolan is priceless.
How elationary running fast can be!
I wouldn’t have noticed the glasses taped to his head if you hadn’t teed that up.
Great stuff Josh and a Milwaukee connection. Just shared it with some fellow high school track & field coaches. Looking forward to being in LA this weekend to watch my daughter run (and out of the brutal cold here in Wisconsin).
Thanks JD. The "Marquette Marvel" really was something. I could have written the whole book just about Metcalfe.
Excellent article, I'd love to learn more about the issues Jessie Owens had mentioned here.
Thanks Manuel. Despite being the star of the Berlin Olympics, Jesse was suspended by the AAU for refusing to participate in a series of exhibition races after the Olympics--exhibitions for which he would have received zero compensation. As a result, he never raced on the amateur circuit again.
Prior to reading this, I had a long-held and misguided notion that the photo finish had first been used to decide horse races...well done, Mr. Hanna, for correcting this. Great story and amazing to learn more about these amazing sprinters and men.
Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, with gambling so intertwined with horse racing it was imperative they get the finishes right. But its use was, in fact, after the 1932 Olympics.