Jesse Owens and Luz Long among 5 awarded Olympians for Life by WOA Patron Prince Albert

31 | 7 | 2024

The granddaughters of USA’s Jesse Owens OLY and Germany’s Luz Long OLY on behalf of their grandfathers joined Kenya’s Faith Ogallo OLY, New Zealand’s Barbara Kendall OLY and Philippines’ Akiko Thomson-Guevara OLY during the Olympic Games in Paris receiving the award of Olympians for Life by WOA Patron HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco OLY and WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY.

The ceremony took place at the OLY House Paris 2024 @ Caisse d’Epargne Opening Cocktail in the presence of IOC Vice-President Nicole Hoevertsz OLY and a huge crowd of other Olympians and members of the Olympic family. The World Olympians Association’s Olympians for Life was first awarded in Rio in 2016. It celebrates those Olympians who have made significant contributions to sport and society, who have excelled both on and off the field of play.

Jesse Owens OLY and Luz Long OLY were awarded posthumously for their joint celebration at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin after the long jump competition where Owens told gold and Long silver. They walked arm in arm around the stadium as Hitler watched from the stands in a clear demonstration of the core values of the Olympic Movement and an effective rebuff to Hitler and his ideology of hate. Akiko Thomson-Guevara OLY was awarded for bringing sport to disadvantaged children, Barbara Kendall OLY for her advocacy of athletes’ rights over many years and Faith Ogallo OLY for her environmental work.

The awards for Jesse Owens OLY and Luz Long OLY were made to their granddaughters Marlene Dortch and Julia-Vanessa Long who both spoke movingly about the living legacy of their grandfathers in the ongoing fight against racism and for tolerance and acceptance of all.

Together Forever: Jesse Owens OLY and Luz Long OLY

WOA President Joël Bouzou OLY said: “Of course, every Olympian is guided by the Olympic values, but these five have gone above and beyond. What an inspiring group they are, as always. We are proud of these special Olympians whose actions inspire us all. We are used to saying Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. Well today shows that being always an Olympian even extends to beyond your life.”

The stories of these five remarkable Olympians is told below.

Watch the induction ceremony below.

See their stories here.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco OLY signs the Olympians Signing Wall at OLY House with the name he competed in at 5 Olympics, Albert Grimaldi OLY

Barbara Kendall OLY (New Zealand) awarded for advocating for the athletes' voice in sport

Akiko Thomson-Guevara OLY (Philippines) awarded for bringing sport to disadvantaged children

Faith Ogallo OLY (Kenya) awarded for her environmental work