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The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023

Jesse Owens

  • Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2023
  • Embed from Getty Images
  • Sport(s): Track & Field
  • Statistics: One 100 m Olympic Gold Medal (1936)

    One 200 m Olympic Gold Medal (1936)

    One 4x100 m Relay Olympic Gold Medal (1936)

    One Olympic Long Jump Gold (1936)

    Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

    Member of the IAAF Hall of Fame
  • In 1935, Owens was enrolled at Ohio State set records in the 100 m dash and long jump, and there was no doubt that he was the top athlete in track and field. Owens went into the 1936 Berlin Olympics as the heavy favorite in what would be politically charged games. These were the games held in Nazi Germany, and its leader, Adolf Hitler, would be in attendance.



    Despite the racism that Owens encountered at home, he was asked to stand up against the racism perpetrated by German leadership. Owens dominated the Games, becoming the first man to win four Gold Medals in track in a single Olympics by winning the 100 m, 200 m, 4x100 m relay, and long jump. Up until that time, this was unquestionably the most incredible single performance in Olympic history, and arguably it still is.



    Owens may have been snubbed by Hitler, who did not shake his hand, but he never received any congratulations from American President Franklin Roosevelt.



    The impact of Owens is still felt and will never be forgotten.



    Nor should it be.



    We are proud to nominate Jesse Owens for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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