Jesse Owens: An Olympic Hero For America

Can you imagine embarrassing the infamous Adolf Hitler in front of the whole world? Jesse Owens did that in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It was not an easy road for him to get there, but he did it by putting enough effort and hard work forward. Jesse Owens was able to overcome racial judgment by surviving a poverty struck childhood, training hard in school, and by winning the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

During his junior high years, he had to practice before school because of his job after school. In his high school, he established a world record in the 100 meter dash and the long jump in the National High School Championship. He could barely make enough money to live on for him and his young wife, Ruth. He attended Ohio State University, where he was nicknamed "The Buckeye Bullet." He won a record of eight NCAA Championships. Even during his success, he wasn't allowed to live on campus. He also had to eat at black-only restaurants. That didn't crush his spirit, though. At the Big Ten meet in 1935, he set three world records and tied a fourth. That was when he qualified for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Adolf Hitler was in charge at that time and he certainly did not like African Americans. When Jesse won his heat, he wasn't invited up to his box like the other winners, nor was he given any sort of acknowledgement. The next day, during the finals, Hitler wouldn't shake any runner's hand so no one would think that he was ignoring Owens. Everyone knew it, though. Jesse knew it too, even though he pretended it didn't bother him. Americans were livid. They had the greatest runner of all time in there and Hitler wouldn't even look at him. That race, Jesse won four gold medals, an accomplishment that had not

Sarah: As Jesse Owens once said, “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into a reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self discipline, and effort.” This quote is saying that before you can make your dreams come true, you must work hard and not stop until you reach your dreams. This has to do with our topic because Jesse Owens showed these traits when he was competing in the 1936 Olympics.

Jesse Owens changed the world by matriculated in the Olympics and showing that everyone is different and better at things than other people. Starting with shaking Hitler's hand and the Gunshot of the run, he showed the world that every race is superior in many ways. In all of the events he competed he took first in and showed that race does not matter. Although, “Jesse Owens, who smoked up to a pack of cigarettes a day for a good deal of his life, died of lung cancer in Tucson, Arizona, on March 31, 1980” (History). When he was awarded the medals he showed the world that all blacks can compete in the olyimpics.

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, were inspiring given the historical context in which he rose to fame. 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.

In Warren Nagueyalti’s article “Jesse Owens” he said “Because of his stellar athletic record colleges from all over the country were recruiting him” (Pg 511). He went to Ohio State University and on May 5th 1935 he broke 5 world records at a track meet in Ann Arbor Michigan, some consider it as the biggest day in track and field history. On August 16th in Berlin, Germany, a young Jesse Owens lined up

The height of Jesse Owen ’s career was the 1936 olympics in Berlin, Germany (Gentry). At the time, hitler controlled Germany, and so it was an amazing feat when Jesse won the racist fans’ hearts with his breathtaking speed (Gentry).

Although some started to turn toward equality, many still disliked poor Jesse. Even the president of the United States failed to recognise and congratulate Jesse’s accomplishments (“Owens Wins Fourth Gold Medal”). He would not formally be congratulated until 1976. But, Jesse was not the least bit phased. He knew he did a good thing, and maybe even opened up people’s eyes. He once said, “The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that's where it's at.” (“Jesse Owens: Video Interview”). Jesse had an everyday struggle with discrimination, and he showed everyone, by example, that if you have a strong heart and fight all the urges to break down, you will go far. He was a living example of how men should be, and that no one is incapable of accomplishing their

The AAU made an investigation on him that threated his chance on going to the trails for the Olympics.(bio#2). Jesse was allowed to attended the trail.(bio#2). In the finals Jesse took home the medal for the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.3 seconds.(bio#2). Owens followed that record with a new Olympic recorded of 26 feet for the long jump.(bio#2). Two days later he earned his third gold meatal for the games with an Olympic record of 20.7 seconds in the 200 meter run.(bio#2). Jesse then won his fourth metal for the 400 meter

In 1928, when he graduated racism was still strong and alive, and the desegregation of sports was slowly beginning, but black athletes started achieving recognition especially for someone as talented and committed to achieving success as Jesse Owens was (Gale). Jesse Owens wasn’t successful just because of his talent, he was successful because of his hard work and determination. He “worked a number of jobs including elevator operator, a waiter, pumped gas, worked in the library, and served a stint as a page in the Ohio Statehouse, all of this in between practice and record setting on the field in intercollegiate competition” (JesseOwens.com). Not only did Jesse Owens work endless hours, he practiced endless hours, it’s rare to see someone with the work ethic Owens had, he clearly wanted to be successful putting all of his time and effort towards achieving it. He even broke three records in a span of forty five minutes while injured, and nearly broke a fourth (JesseOwens.com).

This shows how Jesse Owens, a man who overcame many obstacles like racial abuse, sickness, and injuries yet still achieved his dreams of getting gold in the olympic games and becoming the “Fastest Man Alive”. One of the biggest obstacle Jesse Owens faced in

In 1932, Jesse failed to earn a spot on the United States Olympic track team (“U.S.” 1). This did not let Jesse ruin his dream of becoming a Olympic runner. In 1936, he tried out for the Olympics again and made the team, while placing first in the three events he tried out for (“U.S.” 1). Jesse Owens was on his way to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. In his long jump competition, Owens earned a gold medal (Bennett 3). After the jump was completed, the German competition, Lutz Long, gave him a big hug, “one blond and German, the other black and African,” defying racial boundaries (Bennett 3). During this amazing moment 100,000 Germans were chanting “Yes-Say OV-ENS!” (Bennett 1). In Berlin, Jesse won medals in the long jump, 100 meter dash, 200 meter race, and the 400 meter relay (“U.S.”

Owens athletic feats confronted American racial discrimination. In a country that fostered athletic success, Americans would only accept someone as a role model who was athletically successful. The idea of Owens representing the U.S.A. is ironic because Owens was an African American experiencing repression by the Jim Crow laws. Owens obligated not only American Whites to challenge their ethnic ideas and celebrate his success, but for Germany and the rest of the world too. The force of specific individuals to influence change is exemplified by Owens here. Interestingly, both President Roosevelt and Hitler refused to shake Owens hand after he had won four gold medals. Owens never let any bigotry get to him, and by using his athletic prowess as

gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. The dormitory used by Jesse during the

The Olympics, an event where the most physically fit push themselves to the extreme to win against other nations. In 1936, Adolph Hitler and the Nazis held the Olympics in Berlin, Germany. American athletes had a hard time deciding if they should travel to Berlin and take part in the Nazi Olympics. The Berlin Olympics was a personal issue for the American team, which included Jesse Owens. He wasn't sure that he should join the team because of the views that were expressed by the Nazis. Despite this, he had a lot to show the world.