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Jesse Owens |
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James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team. Early yearsJames Cleveland Owens was born in 1913 in Lawrence County, Alabama to Henry and Emma Owens. When Owens was eight, his parents decided to move the family to Cleveland, Ohio. Owens was the grandson of a slave and the son of a sharecropper. He was often sick with what his mother reportedly called "the devil's cold". He was given the name Jesse by a teacher in Cleveland who did not understand his accent when the young boy said he was called J.C.Life in Cleveland was not prosperous for the family. Owens had taken different jobs in his spare time: He delivered groceries, loaded freight cars and worked in a shoe repair shop.[1] During this period Owens realized that he had a passion for running. Throughout his life Owens attributed the success of his athletic career to the encouragement of Charles Riley, his junior-high track coach at Fairview Junior High, who had put him on the track team (see also Harrison Dillard, a Cleveland athlete inspired by Owens). Since Owens worked in a shoe repair shop after school, Riley allowed him to practice before school instead. Owens first came to national attention when, as a student of East Technical High School in Cleveland, he equalled the world record of 9.4 seconds in the 100-yard dash and long-jumped 24 feet 9 ½ inches (7.56 m) at the 1933 National High School Championship in Chicago. NCAAOwens attended the Ohio State University only after employment was found for his father, ensuring the family could be supported. He was affectionately known as the "Buckeye Bullet" and won a record eight individual NCAA championships, four each in 1935 and 1936. The record of four golds at the NCAA has only been equaled by Xavier Carter, in 2006, although his titles also included relay medals. However, While Owens was enjoying athletic success, he had to live off campus with other African-American athletes. When he traveled with the team, Owens could either order carry out or eat at "black-only" restaurants. Likewise, he slept in "black-only" hotels. Owens was never awarded a scholarship, so he continued to work part-time jobs to pay for school.[1]Owens's greatest achievement came in a span of 45 minutes on May 25, 1935 at the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he set three world records and tied a fourth. He equalled the world record for the 100 yard (91 m) dash (9.40 seconds) and set world records in the long jump (26 feet 8¼ inches (8.13 m), a world record that would last 25 years), 220 yard (201 m) dash (20.70 seconds), and the 220 yard low hurdles (22.6 seconds to become the first person to break 23 seconds). In fact, in 2005 both NBC sports announcer, Bob Costas, and University of Central Florida Professor of Sports History, Richard C. Crepeau chose this as the most impressive athletic achievement since 1850.[2] Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium was completed in 2001 on The Ohio State University campus. It is a multi-sport facility that hosts the university's varsity track and field, lacrosse and soccer teams. Owens was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans. Berlin OlympicsIn 1936 Owens arrived in Berlin to compete for the United States in the Summer Olympics. Adolf Hitler was using the games to show the world a resurgent Nazi Germany. He and other government officials had high hopes German athletes would dominate the games with victories (the German athletes did indeed achieve a top of the table medal haul). Meanwhile, Nazi propaganda promoted concepts of "Aryan racial superiority" and depicted ethnic Africans as inferior.Owens surprised many by winning four gold medals: On August 3 1936 he won the 100m sprint, defeating Ralph Metcalfe; on August 4, the long jump, alleging friendly and helpful advice from German competitor Lutz Long (though Guy Walter would dispute this event- see below) G; on August 5, the 200m dash; and, after he was added to the 4 x 100m relay team, his fourth on August 9 (a performance not equalled until Carl Lewis won gold medals in the same events at the 1984 Summer Olympics). On the first day, Hitler shook hands only with the German victors and then left the stadium (some claim this was to avoid having to shake hands with Cornelius Johnson, who was African-American, while a Nazi spokesman claimed that Hitler's exit had been pre-scheduled). Olympic committee officials then insisted Hitler greet each and every medalist or none at all. Hitler opted for the latter and skipped all further medal presentations.[3][4] On reports that Hitler had deliberately avoided acknowledging his victories, and had refused to shake his hand, Owens recounted:[5] ) Jesse Owens on the podium after winning the long jump at the 1936 Olympics
Owens was cheered enthusiastically by 110,000 people in Berlin's Olympic Stadium and later ordinary Germans sought his autograph when they saw him in the streets. Owens was allowed to travel with and stay in the same hotels as whites, an irony at the time given that blacks in the United States were denied equal rights. After a New York ticker-tape parade in his honor, Owens had to ride the freight elevator to attend a reception for him at the Waldorf-Astoria.[7] Post OlympicsAfter the games had finished, Owens was invited, along with the rest of the team, to compete in Sweden. However he decided to capitalise on his success by returning to the United States to take up some of the lucrative commercial offers he was receiving. American athletic officials were furious and withdrew his amateur status, ending his career immediately. Owens was livid: "A fellow desires something for himself," he said.With no sporting appearances to bolster his profile, the lucrative offers never quite materialised. Instead he was forced to try to make a living as a sports promoter, essentially an entertainer. He would give local sprinters a ten or twenty yard start and beat them in the 100 yd (91 m) dash. He also challenged and defeated racehorses although as he revealed later, the trick was to race a high-strung thoroughbred horse that would be frightened by the starter's pistol and give him a good jump. He soon found himself running a dry-cleaning business and then even working as a gas station attendant. He eventually filed for bankruptcy but, even then, his problems were not over and in 1966 he was successfully prosecuted for tax evasion. At rock bottom, the rehabilitation began and he started work as a U.S. 'goodwill ambassador'. Owens traveled the world and spoke to companies like the Ford Motor Company and the United States Olympic Committee. He would always stress the importance of religion, hard work, and loyalty. In 1968, he received some criticism for supporting the racially turbulent XIX Olympic Games held that year. The Jesse Owens Foundation provides information, materials, and direction for research on the life of Jesse Owens. It is governed by a Board of Directors with oversight provided by a Managing Director. The Foundation is supported by special events and contributions from the community at large. Since 1983, the Foundation has provided more than 350 young people throughout the country with support for their college education. Jesse Owens was inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1970. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976 by Gerald Ford and (posthumously) the Congressional Gold Medal by George H. W. Bush on March 28, 1990. In 1984, a street in Berlin was renamed for him, and the Jesse Owens Realschule/Oberschule (a secondary school) is in Berlin-Lichtenberg. His birthplace in Oakville dedicated a park in his honor in 1996, at the same time the Olympic Torch came through the community, 60 years after his Olympic triumph. A pack-a-day smoker for 35 years, Owens died of lung cancer at age 66 in Tucson, Arizona. He is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. Trivia
References1. ^ [1] Retrieved April 5, 2007 2. ^ Lacey Rose, The Single Greatest Athletic Achievement November 18, 2005 published in Forbes.com 3. ^ Hyde Flippo, The 1936 Berlin Olympics: Hitler and Jesse Owens German Myth 10 from german.about.com 4. ^ Rick Shenkman, Adolf Hitler, Jesse Owens and the Olympics Myth of 1936 February 13, 2002 from History News Network (article excerpted from Rick Shenkman's Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History. Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st ed edition (November 1988) ISBN 0688065805) 5. ^ The Jesse Owens Story (1970) ISBN 0399603158 6. ^ - quoted in Triumph, a book about the 1936 Olympics by Jeremy Schaap 7. ^ As quoted in "Owens pierced a myth" by Larry Schwartz in ESPN SportsCentury. (2005) 8. ^ Jesse Owens' great-nephew to play pro ball in Berlin, published August 2, 2006; retrieved March 8, 2007 External links
Athletics, known as Track and Field in the United States, has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. EventsThe events contested have varied widely...... Click the link for more information. The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin's bid was preferred over Barcelona by the IOC in April, 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. The program of events was unchanged from the previous Games. Medal summaryMen's eventsEvent Gold Silver Bronze ..... Click the link for more information. The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin's bid was preferred over Barcelona by the IOC in April, 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. The program of events was unchanged from the previous Games. Medal summaryMen's eventsEvent Gold Silver Bronze ..... Click the link for more information. The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin's bid was preferred over Barcelona by the IOC in April, 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. The program of events was unchanged from the previous Games. Medal summaryMen's eventsEvent Gold Silver Bronze ..... Click the link for more information. The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin's bid was preferred over Barcelona by the IOC in April, 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. The program of events was unchanged from the previous Games. Medal summaryMen's eventsEvent Gold Silver Bronze ..... Click the link for more information. September 12 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining. Events..... Click the link for more information. 19th century - 20th century - 21st century 1880s 1890s 1900s - 1910s - 1920s 1930s 1940s 1910 1911 1912 - 1913 - 1914 1915 1916 Year 1913 (MCMXIII ..... Click the link for more information. March 31 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining. Events..... Click the link for more information. 19th century - 20th century - 21st century 1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s 1977 1978 1979 - 1980 - 1981 1982 1983 Year 1980 (MCMLXXX ..... Click the link for more information. Motto "In God We Trust" (since 1956) "E Pluribus Unum" ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional) Anthem ..... Click the link for more information. Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sports events that involve running, throwing and jumping. The name is derived from the Greek word "athlon" meaning "contest". ..... Click the link for more information. The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin's bid was preferred over Barcelona by the IOC in April, 1931. ..... Click the link for more information. Berlin Flag Coat of arms Details Location of Berlin within Germany / EU Coordinates Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country ..... Click the link for more information. Anthem "Das Lied der Deutschen" (third stanza) also called "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" ..... Click the link for more information. long jump (formerly called "broad jump") is an athletics (track and field) event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to land as far from the take-off point as possible. ..... Click the link for more information. Lawrence County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of J. Lawrence, a captain in the United States Navy from Vermont. ..... Click the link for more information. State of Alabama Flag of Alabama Seal Nickname(s): Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie Motto(s): Audemus jura nostra defendere Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 96. ..... Click the link for more information. Cleveland, Ohio Flag Seal Nickname: The Forest City Motto: Progress & Prosperity Location in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Coordinates: Country ..... Click the link for more information. Sharecropping is a system of agriculture or agricultural production where a landowner allows a sharecropper to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land. ..... Click the link for more information. Olympic medal record Men's athletics Gold 1948 London 100 m Gold 1948 London 4x100 m relay Gold 1952 Helsinki 110 m hurdles Gold 1952 Helsinki 4x100 m relay William Harrison Dillard ..... Click the link for more information. East Technical High School or East Tech is a secondary school under the operation of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, Ohio. The school when it opened on October 5, 1908 was the first public trade school in the city and reported to be only one of five ..... Click the link for more information. City of Chicago Flag Seal Nickname: "The Windy City", "The Second City", "ChiTown", "Hog Butcher for the World", "City of the Big Shoulders", "The City That Works" Motto: "Urbs in Horto ..... Click the link for more information. The Ohio State University (OSU) is a coeducational public research university in the state of Ohio. The university was founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the largest university in the United States. ..... Click the link for more information. Xavier "PeeWee" Carter (born 8 December, 1985 in Palm Bay, Florida) is a professional track & field athlete. He attends Louisiana State University and was a star on both the track & field team and the football team. ..... Click the link for more information. May 25 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining. Events
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The final essays describe heroes such as Jesse Owens, Helen Keller, George Washington Carver, Margaret Knight and others. Jesse Owens was one of the world's most famous Olympic athletes, and he was the first American track-and-field contestant to win four gold metals in a single Olympics. Jesse Aaron, Jesse Owens, a little boy who wants to be a runner. |
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Jesse Owens