Jesse Owens
The Man Who Proved Them Wrong
The Man Who Changed The Face of Our Country
There are many great people in the world but none as bold or strong as Jesse Owens. Even in the face of Adolph Hitler himself, he showed no fear and won four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics just before World War II. Jesse Owens should continue to be appreciated as a hero.
Early Life
Middle Life
Owens became a nationally recognized sprinter at East Technical High School as he set world records in the one hundred and two hundred yard dashes, as well as the long jump. After graduating from high school, Owens enrolled in Ohio State University where he continued to break world records. Owens, also known as the “Buckeye Bullet,” tied a world record in the one hundred yard dash, and broke world records in the 220 yard dash and the 220 yard long hurdles in the 1935 Big Ten Championships. The same year, Owens won 42 events. In the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Owens won four gold medals in the 100 yard, 200 yard, long jump and 400 yard relay. He set two world records along the way. Hitler was furious as the games were set to show the supremacy of the Aryans. The Aryans were what Hitler called non-Jewish Germans. After he received the medals, Hitler stormed out of the stadium instead of congratulating him like the other athletes.
Later Life
Motto:
Fun Facts!
- At school, one of his teachers could not understand him through his thick southern accent and thought he said his name was Jesse when he had said his name was J.C. This name stuck with him for the rest of his life.
- 1. Owens captured four gold medals at a single Olympiad.
- 2. Owens said President Franklin D. Roosevelt, not Hitler, snubbed him.
- 3. Owens ran to gold in German-made track shoes handcrafted by the founder of Adidas.
- 5. His mother performed makeshift surgery on him with a knife.
- 6. Owens was nicknamed the “Buckeye Bullet.”
- 7. In college Owens set three world records and tied a fourth within the span of 45 minutes.
- 8. Owens raced against horses for money.
- 9. The New York Mets baseball team hired Owens as a running coach.
- 10. There are enduring memorials to Owens in Berlin.