DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Rare footage shows marathon hero Sohn Kee-chung signing autographs in 1936 Berlin

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A rare video has emerged showing Korean marathoner Sohn Kee-chung, the 1936 Berlin Olympics gold medalist, signing autographs for German citizens.
  • The footage, part of a documentary about daily life in Berlin during the Olympics, captures Sohn in civilian attire interacting with locals near a bus stop.
  • This discovery offers a new glimpse into Sohn's activities in Berlin beyond his historic race, highlighting his international fame.

A recently discovered video offers a rare glimpse into the life of Korean marathon legend Sohn Kee-chung after his historic victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The footage shows Sohn, who won the gold medal, signing autographs for local German citizens near a bus stop.

The 11-minute, 46-second documentary, titled 'Olympic City Berlin 1936' and released on the YouTube channel 'Berlin Channel' by German digital content company Nikita Ventures, captures everyday scenes from the Olympic period. The specific clip featuring Sohn appears between 10 minutes and 2 seconds into the video.

In the video, Sohn is seen wearing a fedora and a suit, interacting with people who recognized him the day after his marathon win. A German narration identifies him as "Son, the glorious winner of the marathon race," indicating the attention he received from German authorities at the time. This contrasts with existing footage, such as Leni Riefenstahl's official Olympic film 'Olympia,' and provides a more personal look at Sohn's interactions in the city.

The documentary itself is believed to be a propaganda film produced by Boehner-Film, a German film company, under the slogan 'Berlin, the center of the world.' It was reportedly censored by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and shown throughout Germany. The discovery adds another layer to the historical record of Sohn Kee-chung's time in Berlin, showcasing his status as an international celebrity.

Marathon race glorious winner 'Son'

— German narratorGerman narration accompanying Sohn Kee-chung's appearance in the documentary 'Olympic City Berlin 1936'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog