QfeMH^ THE LEGACY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA AND THE MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES By Brother Harold Rudolph Sims Note: The following is an updated, edited version of Brother Sims original story, written in 1996 entitled: Triumph at Atlanta: The Legacy ofAlpha Phi Alpha and the Modern Olympic Games.
s the Black American began his road back from the reverses suffered in the 19th century, the world of international sport became his first global proving ground. In this arena, professional boxing and Olympic track and field events became a rallying force for racial pride and inspiration, during its period of greatest challenges, Alphamen led the way in achieving competitive glory for the nation as well as racial pride for Black America. Between 1896 and 1936,10 Alphamen participated in over 19 contests in seven Olympic track and field events, winning a total 14 medals (10 gold and four silver). In that span Alpha athletes set or equaled seven Olympic records. At the 1932 Los Angeles Games, Brother Eddie Tolan set a record of 10.3 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.2 in the 200. With his triumphs, Brother Tolan was the first black Olympic athlete to win a gold medal. Brother Ralph Metcalfe took silver behind Brother Tolan in both events. Four years later in Berlin, Germany, Brother Jessie Owens came face to face with the fascism and German ruler Adolph Hitler, tying Brother Tolan's mark in the 100 and breaking it in the 200 in a time of 20.7. In the Berlin Games, Alphamen racked up a total of 10 medals, eight of which were gold and two silver. Brother Owens won four of those himself in the 100, 200, 400-meter relay and the long jump. Brother John Woodruff won a gold medal in the 800, Brother Archie Williams won the 400 and Brothers Owens, Williams and Metcalfe comprised three-fourths of the gold medal 400-meter relay team that set a record of 39-8 seconds. Brother Metcalfe took silver in the 100, and Brother David Albritton finished with a silver medal in the high jump.
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After World War II interrupted the 1940 and 1944 Games, Alphamen continued to excel and pioneer as athletes in the Olympic tradition. Particularly noteworthy in this regard were: •
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Brother Don Barksdale of the University of California at Los Angeles, a member of the 1948 Gold Medal basketball team in London. The Olympic track and field record of 20.7 (tying Brother Owens record) in the 200 set by Brother Andrew Stanfield of New Jersey at the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland. Brother Walt Bellamy of Indiana University, a member of the I960 Gold Medal winning basketball team in Rome, Italy. Brother Otis Davis of the University of Southern California, a gold medalist and former world record holder in the 400 meter dash at the i960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Brother Quinn Buckner of Indiana University, a member of the 1976 Gold Medal winning basketball team in Montreal, Canada. Brother Mike Powell of the University of California-Irvine, silver medal-winning long jumper at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Three years later, Brother Powell, also a member of the 1996 Olympic Team, set a world record in the long jump at the 1991 World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Japan. The selection and appointment of Brother Lenny Wilkens as the gold medal-winning coach of the 1996 Olympic Basketball squad. THE SPHINX* SUMMER 2000