Story: Sports reporting and commentating

Jack Lovelock at the 1936 Olympics

Jack Lovelock at the 1936 Olympics

This famous photograph shows Jack Lovelock winning the 1500 metres at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in front of Adolf Hitler. In the background are the American runner Glenn Cunningham, who came second, and the Italian Luigi Beccali, who was third. Lovelock won the race in the world record time of 3 minutes 47.8 seconds. Lovelock's victory also became famous in media history for the partisan enthusiasm of the BBC radio commentator Harold Abrahams, as Lovelock approached the finishing line, 'Jack! Come on! ... He wins! He’s won! Hooray!’

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, John Edward (Jack) Lovelock Papers (MS-Group-0012)
Reference: MSX-2261-062

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Keith Quinn, 'Sports reporting and commentating - Sports photography', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40095/jack-lovelock-at-the-1936-olympics (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Keith Quinn, published 5 Sep 2013