Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens in college at Ohio State University. (Topnews.in)

Through Jesse Owens’s incredible life, he encountered many troubles, hardships, and obstacles, none of which caused him to skip a beat. He had blazing speed and ability for the time, and he used it to his full potential. No one could match his speed, or his talent in jumping at the time, and to reinforce his ability, there are very few who can match his records even today, with all of our athletic advancements. All together, Jesse Owens was one of the most talented athletes and influential people in American history!

Jesse Owens was born the seventh child of Emma and Henry Alexander on September 13th, 1913, in Alabama. His birth name was James Cleveland Owens, but when he said J.C. (James Cleveland) was his name for enrollment, his teacher was mistaken and thought he said “Jesse.” Jesse’s famous track and field career began in junior high when he cleared 6 feet in the high jump. Also, that year, he flew 22 feet 11 inches in the broad jump. High school was no different for Jesse, with him setting many records and winning the Ohio state championship three straight years. At O.S.U., Jesse was called “The Buckeye Bullet” for his uncanny speed and agility. Owens went to a few National events before college, which resulted in much attention around the country. He was recruited by an number of colleges, but he ended up choosing Ohio State University, although they were not able to offer a track scholarship at this time. Through college, Jesse worked many jobs to support him and his wife Ruth.

At the Big Ten track and field championships in Ann Arbor, on May 25th, 1935, Jesse set three world records and tied a fourth in a time period of 45 minutes. With this confidence behind him, Jesse entered the 1936 Olympics. These Olympic games were held in Germany in an era in which Hitler believed that Germany was superior, athletically, to any foreign nation. Jesse ended Hitler’s dream of becoming an athletic power, however, by winning 4 gold medals in a single track and field competition, becoming the first American to claim this feat. In a time of strict segregation, Jessie Owens changed many minds about the superiority of white Americans.

After his Olympic career, Jesse continued attending the Olympic games and inspiring other athletes, with his achievements and his moving words. (He admired Martin Luther King Jr.) He played a role in groups such as black history programs, church committees and other organizations that admired Jesse’s talents both vocal and athletic. In 1976, Jesse was presented the Medal of Freedom from President Gerald R. Ford in front of the U.S. Montreal Olympic teams. Jesse’s importance off the track was as important to his well-rounded character as his track records.

On the tragic day of March 31st, in 1980, in the city of Tucson, Arizona, Jesse died of complications due to his lung cancer. His death brought back memories of all of his lifelong importance to American history. Jesse strongly believed in finding the goodness in life: “Find the Good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it and you’ll start believing.” This quote shows Jesse’s view on life: he loved to live and didn’t care what others thought about him!