Jesse Owens
American sprinter and long jumper
Born
September 12th, 1913
111 years ago
Died
March 31st, 1980
45 years ago — 66 years old
Category
Athletes & Sports Figures
Country
United States
Links & References
Competed in track and field, specializing in sprinting and long jump. Gained global notoriety at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where four gold medals were won in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100 meter relay. Defended titles at the 1935 Big Ten Conference, setting multiple world records in a single day. His athletic achievements challenged the prevailing notions of racial superiority during that era.
Won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Set multiple world records in 1935
Dominated sprinting events at the Big Ten Conference
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