James Cleveland Owens

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In the year of 1913 in a small town in Alabama, James Cleveland Owens was born. At the age of eight James's parents;Henry and Emma Owens decieded to move to Clevland,Ohio. At J.C's school he recieved the nickname Jesse. Jesse first started running in a middle school gym class where he did the 60-yard Dash. Because Jesse's family had little money he had to work to help his family. Jesses's coach agreed to train Jesse to run after his job. Jesse Cleveland Owens was the first american in the history of Olympics track and field to when four gold medals.

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Jesse Owens attended high school at East Technical high school in Cleveland. This is where he began to fill his ultimate role as a record-setting athlete. Jesse's first record occured in his senoir year of high school in the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.4 seconds. Jesse tied that record when he ran in the interscholastic championsip in Chicago. He also leaped a distance of 24ft 9 5/8inch in the broad jump in the Chicago championship. Jesse became very popular from his track team so that many colleges wanted to recruit him. Jesse chose to attend Ohio State University.

Unfortunatley in the 1930s scholarships were unavailable. If it wasn't for jesse's amazing record in track and field he would have never thought about going to any college. Therefore, Jesse had to work a full time job to help pay for college. When Jessie Owens was a sophomore in Ohio State University he managed to break three records in the 220-yard dash and the 220-low hurdles at a Big Ten track and field meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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In 1936, Jesse Owens entered the Olympics. Because the Olympics were held in Nazi Germany it was referred to as "Hitlers Olympics". There, Adolf Hitler planned to show the world the perfect race until jesse ran and proved to Hitler that African Americans were not weak but strong and was not a lower Race. Jesse was so amazing in the race that even hitler and the other teams were cheering for him. Jesse won all of the events and was the main runner in the 400 yard relay, which is how he became the first African American to win four gold medals.

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On March 31,1980 Jesse Owens passed away due to lung cancer. He was 66 years old. The Grave reads: Jesse Owens. Olympic Champion. 1936. Athlete and humanitarian, a master of the spirit as well as the mechanics of sports. A winner who knew winning was not everything. He showed extraordinary love for his family and friends. His acheivements have shown us all the promise of America. His faith in America inspired countless others to do their best for themselves and their country. Jesse left behind his wife, Ruth and three daughters Gloria, Beverly, and Marlene. Today Jesse's wife Ruth and his daughter Marlene are in charge of the Jesse Owens Foundation. The foundation helps with financial asistance and support for young children and families.