In July of 1928, Luz Long of Leipzig, Germany, joined the esteemed Leipziger Sport Club (LSC) at the age of 15. The club, founded in 1901, was well-respected across Germany for developing world-class athletes in various sports. It was at LSC that Luz was introduced to his beloved “sport teacher” George Richter, who coached Luz all the way through the 1936 Olympics and beyond. In 1930 as a member of LSC, Long began competing in athletics competitions organized by the Verband Mitteldeutscher Ballspiel-Vereine (VMBV) or Central German Association of Ball-Clubs. (VMBV was the regional governing body for organized football/soccer, track & field, and other sports from 1900 through 1933). These track and field meets took place in major cities across Germany at the highest level of competition from each region. Under Richter's strict tutelage, the young German was initially groomed as a decathlete, training in short distance running events and just about every field discipline -- javelin, pole vault, discus, shot put, hammer throw, and all three jumps (high, long and triple).

At the 1931 Central German Association (VMBV) Athletics Championship held in Leipzig on August 23, 1931, 18-year-old Luz Long won the high jump with a mark of 1.80 meters (5’ 11”) and was awarded this first place medal. According to records kept by the Long family, Luz also competed in the long jump and won that event as well with a leap of 6.40 meters (21 feet). Here are the medal details.

Obverse:  “Ehrenplakette [plaque of honor]” at top; image of tall building with “Verbandsheim [association home]” and “1931” at center; “Verband Mitteldeutscher Ballspielvereine” at bottom.

Reverse:  “I. Pr. Hochspr. Kl. I.” engraved with “1.80” manually inscribed [presumably] by Luz Long to denote his winning high jump mark. (Hochsprung is the German word for high jump.)

Composition:  Bronze or bronze alloy

Dimensions:  44 x 53 mm (at widest and longest)

Thickness:  2 mm

Weight:  40 g

Provenance:  Letter from Luz Long's family