In a one-of-a-kind incident which is hardly reminiscent to many, an Indian marathon runner CSA Swami became famous for inadvertently keeping Adolf Hitler waiting at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Swami, aged 22 at that time, was India’s youngest participant at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games, and was determined to complete the marathon despite lagging far behind the leaders.
Who knew at that time what was in store in this young athlete’s destiny as he later went on to become the Sports Editor of Indian Express in Bombay (now Mumbai).
It was the final day of the Berlin Olympics, with Hitler scheduled to review the closing ceremony, set to take place after the marathon — the concluding event.
The gold, silver, and bronze medallists of the marathon waited for their ceremony, as did an impatient Hitler, eager to begin the closing ceremony, which could not start until the marathon was fully completed.
Despite being urged to leave the race and take a ride to the stadium by the organisers, Swami insisted on completing the marathon on foot, showcasing true sportsmanship.
The organisers were so caught up in the situation that they felt choked, wondering what was happening. They had no idea how Hitler would react, and the dictator somehow contained his anger because the international community was observing everything, so he was controlling his temper with great difficulty.
Japan’s Kitei Son won the marathon with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 19.2 seconds, while Swami completed it in 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 44 seconds.
The organisers breathed a sigh of relief when the determined Indian runner finally crossed the finish line, allowing the closing ceremony to begin after a significant delay.
Swami’s determination and resilience, though unnoticed at the time, eventually became a legendary tale of Olympic spirit.
