Jesse Owens.
For History Hall Of Fame!!
African American Track and Field Athlete.
Jesse Owens is one of the best track and field athletes of all time. He was a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist. These four gold medals were won at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. His long jump world record stood for 25 years until 1960 when Irvin Roberson broke his record.
Who is Jesse Owens?
Born in 1913 in Alabama. He is the son of a sharecropper. Went to Ohio State, but he couldn't live on campus because he was an African American. He married Minnie Ruth Soloman and had 3 children.
Some pictures of Jesse Owens.
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Cover of a PBS movie about Jesse Owens.
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Jesse Owens jumping over a hurdle.
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Jesse Owens on a podium after he wins a gold in Nazi Germany, 1936.
He stood for ALL African American athletes.
1936 Olympic Games.
Hitler told america that no African American could be on Olympic rosters. After Owens won the 100-meter event, Hitler stormed out of the stadium. Some reports say that later Hitler congratulated Owens on his success.
Jesse Owens, Hitler reaction
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Owens was rewarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald Ford. After receiving this award, Jesse Owens decided to return home. When he returned home, he still wasn't treated with respect because of his race.
Death.
Owens retired after the 1936 Olympic Games. Unfortunately Jesse Owens smoked up to a pack of cigarettes a day for most of his life, and in 1988 died from lung cancer.