Silver medal from 1936 Olympics sells for $488K

A general overall view of the Olympic rings logo. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Silver medal from 1936 Olympics sells at auction for $488K

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 10/17/22

A new record was set in the sports memorabilia auction world over the weekend, as a silver medal from the 1936 Berlin Olympics sold for a record-breaking $488,435. SCP Auctions, via ESPN, said the previous highest bid for a silver medal was under $100,000.

The medal was won by German long jumper Luz Long, who gained notoriety for forging a friendship with American track and field star Jesse Owens. Long placed second behind Owens in the event.

Final Price: $488,435

The silver medal won by Luz Long at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games sold via @SCPAuctions over the weekend

The German-born long-jumper developed a famous friendship with the gold medalist Jesse Owens pic.twitter.com/j15PRAOvVa
— Bradley Calleja (@bradleycalleja) October 17, 2022

Long's and Owens' friendship was very much in the spotlight at the Olympics held in Nazi-run Germany. After the two athletes came in first and second in the long jump event, Long notoriously linked arms with Owens in front of a large German crowd that included Adolf Hitler.

The two remained friends until Long died in 1943 while fighting for the German side in World War II.

This day in 1943, Luz Long, 1936 Olympic silver medalist, died of his wounds, suffered while fighting against the Allied invasion of Sicily.

Long was friends with American athlete Jesse Owens. After the war, Owens travelled to Germany to meet his son Karl. #WW2 pic.twitter.com/DuTPZz3ThS
— WWII Pictures (@WWIIpix) July 13, 2021