Discover the incredible true story of Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe, the two Japanese pole vaulters who tied at the 1936 Olympics and cut their medals in half.
Every Olympic medal represents years of grueling training, sacrifice, and an unyielding drive to be the absolute best. For most athletes, the idea of intentionally destroying an Olympic medal is unthinkable. But at the 1936 Summer Olympics, two athletes did exactly that—creating one of the greatest symbols of sportsmanship in history.
Here is the hidden story behind the legendary “Medals of Friendship.”
The 1936 Olympic Pole Vault Tie
The story centers on two Japanese pole vaulters: Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe. Competing at the 1936 games, both men managed to clear a height of 4.25 meters (nearly 14 feet), effectively tying for second place behind American gold medalist Earle Meadows.
According to the rules, a tie-breaker was required to determine who would take home the Silver and who would be left with the Bronze. But there was a catch: Nishida and Oe were best friends and teammates.
Refusing to Compete
Instead of battling it out for the higher spot on the podium, the two friends flat-out refused to participate in a tie-breaker. They felt they had both earned second place equally and didn’t want to compete against one another to prove otherwise.
The Olympic officials were unimpressed. Needing a definitive second and third place for the record books, the Japanese team delegation was forced to make a decision. They arbitrarily awarded the Silver medal to Nishida (because he had cleared the height in fewer attempts) and the Bronze to Oe.
While the official record books were settled, Nishida and Oe were not.
Creating the Medals of Friendship
When the two athletes returned home to Japan, they devised a plan to correct the official record in their own way. They took their respective Silver and Bronze medals to a local jeweler with a highly unusual request: cut them straight down the middle.
The jeweler sliced the medals in half and fused them together, creating two entirely new, hybrid medals. Each athlete was left with a medal that was exactly half-silver and half-bronze.
These split awards immediately became known as the Medals of Friendship (or the “Medals of True Friendship”), serving as a permanent reminder that their bond was more important than the color of the metal they won.
Where Are the Medals Today?
The legacy of these half-medals outlived both athletes. Sueo Oe tragically passed away in 1941 during World War II, while Shuhei Nishida lived until 1997, becoming a prominent figure in Japanese athletics.
Today, the Medals of Friendship are preserved and displayed in Japan. One is kept at Waseda University (Nishida’s alma mater) and the other at Keio University (Oe’s alma mater), inspiring new generations of athletes.
It remains a powerful piece of sports history, proving that sometimes the ultimate victory isn’t standing alone on the podium—it’s who you share the podium with.
Watch the Quick Breakdown
Want the fast-paced version of this story? Check out our 30-second breakdown on YouTube right here:
What do you think? Would you have given up an outright Olympic Silver to share the glory with your best friend? Drop a comment below and let us know!
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