No More Heroes?: Conclusion

Abstract

The final chapter reflects comparatively on what the idea of the national hero and elevation to such status might imply, culturally and ethically, in the modern world. It asks what distinguishes the sports icon from the sports hero and what qualifies the latter to be a national hero, and it considers whether the nationalistic implications make the continued representation of Schmeling—or any sports star—in such terms problematic. Comparisons are drawn with other examples of national heroes, including the boxer Barry McGuigan and the footballer Diego Maradona. The chapter concludes by arguing that contemporary Germany seems resistant to the nationalistic tendencies some have detected in national sports coverage and that the non-triumphalist tributes paid to Schmeling reflect this.