The glorious items related to the late Mr.Shuhei Nishida,
who was the silver medalist in the pole jump competitions in the Los Angeles
and Berlin Olympic Games, were presented to Waseda University by his daughter, Ms. Kiyoko Amano.
Mr. Nishida is a graduate of Waseda University who has been granted “Waseda Sport Award” (*1).
The presented items included the silver medal won by Mr. Nishida
in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games and one of the “Friendship Medals” (*2)
shared by Mr. Nishida and Mr. Sueo Ooe (deceased) in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games,
as well as many other valuable items such as photographs, certificates, notebooks, etc..
At the presentation ceremony, Ms. Amano referred to Mr. Nishida
as “a man of effort” and talked about her childhood memories of the medalist.
The “Friendship Medal” will be on display
at the “Exhibition of Shuhei Nishida’s Memorial Items 2005.”
*1 Waseda Sport Award
Waseda University established the “Waseda Sport Award” in October 1982
commemorating its centennial anniversary to honor graduates who have greatly contributed
to promotion of sport activities. Waseda has awarded graduates aged over seventy years old
who have achieved medals in the Olympic Games or the World Championships, world record holders
and those who have contributed to the development of world and domestic sports.
*2 The Friendship Medals
In the Berlin Olympic Games, Mr. Nishida and Mr. Sueo Ooe jumped the same height
in the pole jump competition and finished second and third respectively.
The two athletes halved their silver and bronze medals and produced two “half-and-half” pieces,
known as the “Friendship Medals.” Mr. Nishida and Mr. Ooe respectively kept one medal each to praise
their rival’s achievement and effort in the competition. Mr. Ooe’s medal is now possessed
by the Chichibunomiya Sport Museum located near the National Stadium in Sendagaya.
