6/14/1936 Luz Long Sets New European Long Jump Record Original Photograph by Fritz Schroter - PSA/DNA Type I (Luz Long Collection)

In addition to the many medals and documents in this collection are dozens of fascinating original photographs depicting Luz Long doing what he did best: competing in either the long jump or the triple jump. They come directly from the Long family and several were submitted to PSA/DNA for Type I authentication. Offered here is one from the 1936 Leipzig District Championships held in Luz’s hometown on June 14, 1936. The young rising track star won the long jump with a mark of 7.81 meters, setting a new European record for the second straight week. Long had jumped 7.72 meters to set the European record for the first time at a meet the previous week in Jena, Germany. He would set it for a third time (7.82 m) at the 1936 German National Championships in July. It showed the steady improvement Luz made as the 1936 Berlin Olympics approached that August where he would take the silver medal with a jump of 7.87 meters.

A reverse stamping credits the shot to German photographer Fritz Schroter. The image of Luz shaking a meet official’s hand has editorial notes on the reverse with the date and Luz’s record-breaking long jump mark. The Long family kept meticulous details of Luz’s event schedule and results from 1929-41. That is how we determined that this photo was taken at the “Leipziger Kreismeisterschaften [District Championships]”. The 5” by 7” (13 x 18 cm) original photo is in remarkable condition and comes encapsulated in a PSA/DNA Type I holder.