Jesse Owens Biography – The Wonder Athlete in Sprints and Long Jump

Jesse Owens biography deals with the life of an American track and field athlete who set world records and won four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This came as a blow to Hitler’s racist intentions. Owens continues to be celebrated as a legendary American hero to this day.

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Jesse Owens Biography - Life and Passion of a Legend

Born in Alabama in 1913, Jesse Owens was the seventh of eleven children of Mary Emma and Henry Owens. As a boy, he took up several jobs such as working in shoe repair shop, loading freight cars and delivering groceries. Much of Jesse Owens biography discusses the world renowned athlete’s commendable traits and qualities and his impeccable performance in the 1936 Olympics. His passion for running was ignited by the encouragement of his junior high track coach Charles Riley. Owens’ performance in the Berlin Olympics did not just win him and his country four gold medals and world records but also ‘snubbed’ racist intentions of the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler. Jesse Owens biography also focuses on his relentless contributions as an ambassador of sport. Owens died in 1980 due to lung cancer and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1990.

Jesse Owens 1936 - Medals and Determination

1936 is probably one of the most memorable years in world history. Jesse Owens 1936 was memorable because he proved to the Nazis and the world at large that the African Americans were not inferior and any individual can achieve greatness. 1936 was the period when Nazism was rampant in Eastern Europe and Hitler through the Berlin Olympics wanted to showcase the superiority of the Aryan race. Jesse Owens 1936 (Olympics) won his first gold in 100 meters; the second in long jump with two earlier fouled attempts; the third gold in 200 meters dash and finally the fourth one in 4*100 meter relay where he led the Americans to win. Owens broke several Olympic records and a street in Berlin, in 1984, was named as a tribute to him. In spite of perennial racial epithets as well as the strong presence of the Nazi Swastika, Owens made Hitler eat his words with his medals.

Jesse Owens Facts - Some Quick Facts

Jesse Owens’ real name was James Cleveland Owens. As a young boy, he was referred to with his initials and when one of his teachers mistakenly pronounced his name wrong, he came to be known as Jesse. Jesse Owens facts are interesting and one of these include his nickname “Buckeye Bullet” which was how he was known when he was a sophomore at Ohio State University. Owens endured racial discrimination at his place of study and went on to prove in the 1936 Olympics that any person can attain greatness regardless of national origin, religion and race. The man was an excellent speaker and spent most of his time in youth sports programs especially for underprivileged children. The Living Legend award was presented to him by President Carter in 1979.