Athletics at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's pole vault

The Olympic pole vault competition of 1936 was due to the long struggle of two Japanese to the silver medal in the sports history. Since the decision was extremely scarce, leaving the Japanese cut their Olympic medals in their home and put together, each one consisting of silver and bronze.

Competition

In the pole vault competition at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on August 5, 1936 had only four pole vaulter, the Americans Earle Meadows ( 1913-1992 ) and William Sefton ( 1915-1982 ) and the Japanese Ōe Sueo ( 1914-1941 ) and Nishida Shūhei (1910 - 1997) 4.25 m skipped. Meadows was the only over 4.35 m and won gold. The three remaining Springer had now overcome 4,15 m in the jump. Sefton did not make this height and missed a medal. The Japanese pole-vaulters achieved in the now five hour-long competition in each jump height of 4.25 m. When it got dark at 21.00 clock, neither was able to achieve a further improvement, so the competition management broke off. She left the Japanese team, the decision on the distribution of medals. The team lead settled on Nishida, because he had overcome in his first attempt 4,25 m. Ōe who reached this jump height until the second attempt, received Bronze. According to another version, the decision to have fallen for Nishida, because he was older.

Both athletes were unhappy with this decision. They were friends and when they came back to Japan, they left their medals divided into two equal halves and add them together again as a combination of silver and bronze.

This unique process in Olympic sports history was referred to as a true team spirit and true friendship and known worldwide. The two medals are referred to in Japanese as yūjo no Medal (友情 の メダルyūjo no Medaru ) or in the English-speaking world as Medal of Friendship ( German medal of friendship ) or as Medal of eternal Friendship ( German medal of eternal friendship).

Hindsight

Ōe Sueo, who studied at the Keio University during his racing career, was the end of December 1941 during the Second World War. Nishida Shūhei was a student of Waseda University. On 21 June 2005, he eldest daughter Amano Kiyoko presented this medal and other sports trophies at a university party. This silver - bronze medal was subsequently exhibited in Aizu Museum on the campus of the University. OES medal is located in the Sports Museum Chichibu -no -miya Kinen Sports Hakubutsukan.