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Athlete Bio#
Age
Died (Aged 66)
1913-1980
Hometown
Cleveland, OH
Quick Facts
Specialty: Sprint distance and long jump
Biographic Information
Jesse Owens was a track and field, four-time Olympic gold medalist whose legendary achievements continue to inspire. Owens' journey to greatness began in high school, where he set multiple records, signaling the start of an extraordinary athletic career. At the 1935 Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in just 45 minutes, he set three world records and tied in another.
After the Olympics, Owens dedicated much of his time to helping underprivileged youth, using his platform to inspire and mentor the next generation. He also became a prominent inspirational speaker. Owens worked as a public relations representative and consultant, leveraging his fame and influence to make a positive impact on society.
Owens' life inspired the biographical drama film "Race," released in 2016. The movie portrays Owens' journey to the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games, highlighting his struggles against racism and his groundbreaking achievements on the world stage.
Olympic Highlights
Owens' success story at the Berlin 1936 Olympics (amid Nazi Germany) is legendary. His journey to the games was marked by both controversy and courage. Though initially dissuaded from participating, Owens and his fellow athletes competed after the American Olympic Committee labeled them "un-American agitators" for considering withdrawal.
On Aug. 3, Owens won the 100m dash in 10.3 seconds. He also clinched gold in the long jump with a leap of 8.06 meters. On Aug. 5, he again secured gold in the 200m sprint with a time of 20.7 seconds. Owens won his fourth and final gold medal on Aug. 9 in the 4×100m relay, setting a world record of 39.8 seconds.
Early Career
After enrolling at Ohio State University, Jesse Owens began his collegiate career with remarkable promise. Despite facing racial discrimination, Owens quickly made his mark in track and field.
During his collegiate years, he achieved an astonishing eight NCAA championships, setting numerous records along the way. His dominance in events like the sprints, long jump and relays solidified his reputation as one of the most outstanding athletes in college sports history.
Olympic Experience
- 1-time Olympian; 4-time Olympic medalist (4 gold)
- Olympic Games Berlin 1936, gold (100m - Men, 200m - Men, 4 x 100m Relay - Men, Long Jump - Men)
Hall Of Fame Bio #
Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympic Games Berlin 1936, an accomplishment deemed “a triumph for all humanity.” Born in Oakville, Alabama, Owens was often sick as a child, having chronic bronchial congestion. But as a teenager, he blossomed into a track and field star, setting or tying national high school records in the 100- and 220-yard dashes. In his junior year at Ohio State University, Owens competed in 42 events and won them all. Then in 1936, he took to the international stage, winning four gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the long jump and 4x100 relay at the Olympic Games Berlin 1936. He was said to have single-handedly crushed Adolf Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy. Owens was later awarded the Medal of Freedom, and posthumously, the Congressional Medal of Honor. The United States Olympic Committee created the Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award in 2016, the 80-year anniversary of the 1936 Games, to capture the legacy of his spirit and example in others. He passed away from lung cancer on March 31, 1980, in Tucson, Arizona.
