BERLIN — The families of Jesse Owens and Luz Long took in the long jump final Saturday at the world championships from the box where Adolf Hitler once sat for the 1936 Olympics.

It was inside the Olympic Stadium, with Hitler looking on, that Long, the German long jump great, famously befriended Owens.

The American stole the show in '36 and made a mockery of Nazi claims of Aryan supremacy, becoming the first U.S. track athlete to win four golds at one Olympics.

Just to be in the stadium touched Marlene Hemphill Dortch, the granddaughter of Owens. The 45-year-old Dortch didn't realize she was sitting in Hitler's box until shortly before the competition began.

"I think I feel pretty — I feel great that I am sitting in the box where Hitler once was, and being very comfortable, and enjoying watching the athletes, enjoying spending time with the wonderful Long family, and my husband, knowing that Luz Long and Jesse Owens' family are being celebrated," said Dortch, who made the trip to Berlin from Fort Washington, Md.

This was the site that helped launch the friendship between Long and Owens. And it all began with a tip.

After Owens fouled on his first two attempts in long jump qualifying, he was in danger of being eliminated. Long told Owens to move his start back a little and take off well before the board. The advice worked and Owens won gold, Long settling for silver.

Despite Long's disappointment in '36 and the political undertones of the result, he and Owens walked from the stadium arm-in-arm.

The families remain in contact. They've spent time together throughout the championships.

To mark the occasion, Dortch presented Dwight Phillips of the United States the gold medal at the award ceremony. The Long family gave the silver to Godfrey Khotso Mokoena of South Africa.

The U.S. athletes have been honoring the memory of Owens at the world championships by wearing the initials "J.O." on their uniforms.

"You kind of feel his spirit," said Sanya Richards, who won gold in the 400. "I can't imagine when he was here how he had to stay focused against all the odds. To pull out four gold medals, that's an amazing accomplishment."