“Olympia” (1938)

Modern sports photography begins and to an extent ends with Leni Riefenstahl’s record of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  Slow motion, tracking shots, low camera angles and detailed close ups are all employed to not only capture the drama of competition as never before but to celebrate the form and function of the human body in the most poetic of ways. 

Inevitably, many critics have argued that Riefenstahl’s is a fascist aesthetic.  The explicit connection made between the ancient Greek games, represented in an opening sequence of incredible beauty, and the modern day Nazi equivalent, with its flag waving pomp, jack-booted officials and always present leadership, is at times unsettling.  In the great director’s defence, she also includes footage of Jesse Owens’ many triumphs on the track as well as that of the Indian team thrashing the hosts to win the hockey gold medal. 

For New Zealand audiences the highlight is seeing the 1500 metres final in its entirety.  The bemusing post race spectacle of stiff arms saluting our national anthem cannot detract from the tear inducing brilliance of Jack Lovelock out running and out thinking the best in the world.