Owenswas still at high school when he equaled the world record for the hundred yarddash. At Ohio State University he became known as the “Buckeye Bullet” and wona record eight championships. However, as an African-American student, he wasforced to live off-campus and America’s racial laws also forbade him to eat outwith white teammates when the athletics team traveled around the United States.But the determined athlete could not be held back, and on May 25, 1935, he astoundedAmerica by equaling the world record for the hundred yard dash and settingworld records in the long jump, the 220 yard dash and the 220 yard low hurdles.This set him up as a force to be reckoned with at the 1936 Olympics.

AdolfHitler planned to use the Berlin Olympics to showcase the superiority ofGermany’s Aryan people, but Owens’ extraordinary achievements put paid to that,and by the end of the Games the Germans themselves were cheering him on.

 

 

Afterthe Games, Owens returned to the States to follow up on some potentialendorsement deals rather than competing in Sweden with the rest of the team.Sporting authorities revoked his amateur status ending his athletics career.But Owens was unrepentant, as he did not receive any sporting scholarships andneeded to support his young family. Unfortunately, prejudice made it impossiblefor a black athlete to make a living from endorsements, so Owens turned toprofessional running, taking part in stunts such as racing a horse in Cuba. Hewon by 20 yards. Owens later said, “People say that it was degrading for anOlympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I hadfour gold medals, but you can’t eat four gold medals.”

 

Thegreat sprinter struggled to get by when his running days were over, going intothe dry cleaning business and even working as a gas station attendant. But inthe late 1960’s he started to carve a name for himself as a good willambassador, spreading the message that with determination anyone could achievegreatness. He participated in events such as the opening of the AmericanEmbassy in the Ivory Coast in 1971, where the street was renamed in his honour.The mayor of Abidjan said calling the street Rue Jesse Owens celebrated theathlete’s achievements and commemorated his contribution to disproving Naziracialist theory.

 

 

In1976, US President Gerald Ford awarded him a Medal of Freedom, the nation’shighest civilian honour. Four years later, following Owen’s death, PresidentJimmy Carter paid tribute. “Perhaps no athlete better symbolized the humanstruggle against tyranny, poverty and racial bigotry,” Carter said. “His workwith young athletes as an unofficial ambassador overseas and a spokesman forfreedom are a rich legacy to his fellow Americans.”