WWII Veteran John Woodruff and the 1936 Olympics

During the 800-meter race, 21-year-old African American athlete John Woodruff, was initially boxed in by other runners, but he strategically fell back to last place to maneuver around them. This calculated move paid off as he surged to victory, clinching the gold medal and making a powerful statement against racial discrimination, in what was known as the “Nazi Olympics.”

[paulkenneally]

Shamefully l have never heard of the bloke.. top man deserves to be remembered.
Respect from England and RIP sir.

[caramelqueen]

I never heard about John Woodroff running in the 1936 Olympics until I watched this video today. (August 24, 2024)

[Tereo-gd]

John woodruff angel as well thanks for blessing the world with your presence of 🎉🎉

[queent]

Amazing to see these people syand up for themselves, their countries, races and others ❤ they did alot more than just win medals

[stamatiskon]

Massive victory an a statement against racism in the Nazi Olympics and then he had to enlist in an all Black regiment because everything was solved after that... The hypocrisy...

[andynaz]

The black athletes say they were treated very well by the German commoners.
After the Olympics they came home to mass racism in the US.

I say this as a proud American by how far we have come from those days.

[barbjohnson]

Beautiful story. Thank you. Not everyone knows his name bc Jesse Owens overshadowed everything. Another one to be proud of is Jim Thorpe at Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games who was Native American.

[sharonhaywood]

John
Jessie !!!!
People can't stop GOD 🙏🏽💪🏽

[ronyagpd]

Shameful that people then and now are still treated according to their skin colour rather than their character. The world is a very strange place.

[barbaradyson]

They ARE NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN just AMERICAN.

[marlonalexander]

How was this a statement against racism when the black athletes were treated like dirt in their own country. Stop talking shit

[EdwardLadaker]

They make you proud to be and American❤❤❤❤

[fleax]

Harold Metcalf ran with Owens - later became Congressman representing Illinois 1st District (U of C/Hyde Park where the atom was "split.")

[rubengonzalez]

An American Olympic champion cheered and applauded in Germany 🇩🇪 comes back to a segregated American military where he is considered a second rate citizen.
Is that the “ make America great again “ Trump and the republicans want to go back to ?
YES.

[DreamilyReal]

Woah, I thought they would not be released back to America.

[TerryHudson-hc]

And Roosevelt didn't even welcome them back they said that Hitler treated them better 😢

[lutherwilliams]

Interesting after the Olympics(He joined the All Black Guard) Interesting???

[GHMYahooka]

lol a victory against nazi olympics? funny how hitler shook everyone's hand and yet our president couldn't do the same.

[jameseaton]

Why for that matter, isn't the name of the great Ralph Metcalf, the sprinter from Marquette University that continually pushed Jesse and finishing in second place against him for most of his career. As well as joining Jesse on the winners' stand in the 4 ×100? Ralph Metcalfe..." ring out a hoya."

[Mister]

The race was anything but dramatic. Nobody was near him at the finish.