One of the most influential events in American history occurred when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This accomplishment and others that he would achieve in his life time, given the historical context in which he rose to fame, inspired people for many generations. Jesse Owens created a historic legacy not just because of his record finishes on the track, but also due to the challenging times in which he competed.

Born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama, Jesse Owens grew up working on several farms. Jesse’s father, a sharecropper, worked for little pay farming other peoples’ land. As young children, Jesse and his six siblings picked cotton on a rich man’s farm in Alabama. At age nine the Owens family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Jesse worked in grocery stores as a nine year old in Cleveland to bring in extra money for his family. (Raatma 8-9) Jesse began running track and field in middle school. In 1928 he set many middle school records including jumping almost twenty-three feet in the long jump (“About Jesse Owens” 1). Jesse went to East Technical High School in the 1930s where he continued to set records and develop as a track and field star. In fact, in his Junior Year, at the National Interscholastic Championship, Jesse set the 220-yard dash record and tied the world record in the 100-yard dash. The city of Cleveland, in order to demonstrate their pride, honored Jesse Owens with a citywide parade marking his debut into the spotlight. (Raatma 13)

After an impressive high school track and field career, Jesse Owens studied at Ohio State University. He did not receive a scholarship for his athleticism, so he had to work many jobs to pay for his education. Jesse did not love academics, but he certainly made a name for himself as the best runner on the track team at Ohio State University.(Raatma 14) On May 25, 1935, as a sophomore in college, Jesse competed in a track and field meet at Ann Arbor, Michigan. That day he won four events, set three world records, and he tied a fourth record all in forty-five minutes. He tied the world record by running the one hundred yard dash in nine point four-seconds. He then broke a world record by jumping twenty-six feet eight and one quarter inches in the long jump. Later, he finished the two hundred twenty yard dash in twenty point three-seconds for another world record. That day, he broke a third world record by finishing the two hundred twenty yard low hurdle race in twenty-two point six seconds.(Shwartz 1) Owens demonstrated his outstanding ability at track and field. In his junior year of college, he won every single one of the forty-two events in which he competed. Three of those events included the Olympic trials for the 1936 Olympics (“About Jesse Owens” 3) guarantying that he would be going to Berlin to compete for a medal.

The 1936 Olympic games took place in Berlin, Germany, when Jesse Owens had reached the young age of twenty-two. At that time, Adolf Hitler ruled Germany. Hitler intended to prove that the German or “Aryan” race trumped all others and he intended to prove it in the Olympics. He did not approve of the Americans having black or Jewish athletes. The Olympics began on August 1, 1936.(Raatma 23) Jesse Owens competed in the 100 yard dash as his first event, on August 3. He finished first in ten point three-seconds, winning his first gold medal, which tied an Olympic world record and helped Jesse earn the respect of the German fans and some German athletes. He also upset Hitler by winning because Eric Borchmeyer, Hitler’s favorite runner, came in fifth place.(Raatma 25) The next day Jesse competed in the long jump with many new fans cheering him on. He set an Olympic record with a jump of twenty-six feet five and one half inches. This win also earned Jesse his second gold medal. During the long jump competition Jesse also became friends with a German Athlete named Luz Long.(Raatma 26-27) On August 5 Jesse Owens competed in the two hundred yard dash, scheduled as his last Olympic race. He came in first with a time of twenty point seven-seconds and got his third gold medal. Jesse beat his teammate Mack Robinson, the older brother of the famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson.(Shwartz 2) On August 9, the American four hundred yard relay prepared for the race to start. The team consisted of Foy Draper, Frank Wykoff, Sam Stoller, and Marty Glickman. With little time before the race started the coach decided to swap Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe in for Sam Stoller and Marty Glickman. Although Jesse and Metcalfe argued for the others to run, they knew it would be best for the team to substitute themselves in for the others. Jesse ran leadoff which means he started off the relay for his team. The team won in thirty-nine point eight-seconds, setting a world record. Jesse got his fourth and final gold medal, ending his Olympic career.(Shwartz 3)

Throughout the Olympics, Hitler invited gold medalists to the German leader’s box, a large room in the Olympic stadium where he watched the events. Hitler never invited Jesse Owens for any of the medals he won. Hitler did not invite any black people to his box who won medals. Even though Hitler did not like Jesse, many Germans did. As mentioned earlier, Luz Long, a German athlete, became good friends with Jesse. Fans considered Luz Long, an Aryan, brave to even talk to Jesse Owens, an African-American. Luz Long competed against Jesse in the long jump. When Jesse Owens won the gold medal for the long jump, Luz Long held Jesse’s hand up in the air in front of the crowd. He then started chanting Jesse’s name, and the audience began chanting as well. After receiving medals, they walked in unison by the German leader’s box, where Hitler watched.(Raatma 25-27) "It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace,” Jesse Owens stated. (Shwartz 2)

When Jesse Owens returned to the United States, he did not have any money so he made public speeches to earn a living. Jesse Owens did not become famous again until the 1950s, when the Associated Press named him the best track and field athlete of all time. In 1956, President Eisenhower asked Jesse to represent him at the Olympics in Australia. In 1974, the Track and Field hall of fame inducted Jesse Owens into its ranks. Two years later, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ford. In 1979, President Carter presented Jesse Owens with the Living Legend Award. That year Jesse also learned he had lung cancer. Jesse Owens died from lung cancer on March 31, 1980. (Raatama 35-37)

Jesse Owens accomplished more than just four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics. He showed the world that anyone can do whatever they want if they follow their dreams. Owens created a lasting legacy not just because of his record running times, but also due to the obstacles he overcame that plagued minorities in Hitler’s Germany. Jesse Owens’ influential story of the Berlin Olympics became an important part of American history since it symbolizes the drive of the American spirit to succeed despite the challenges we may face.