An astonishingly gifted athlete - Jesse Owens.

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Some might argue for Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps when it comes to selecting the greatest male Olympian of all time – but arguably nobody made a greater impact, or personified Olympic values, than Jesse Owens.

Jesse Owens was an African-American track and field athlete who became a sports icon and a symbol of triumph against discrimination. Owens is best known for his exceptional performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

An astonishingly gifted athlete who excelled in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and relay, Owens’ track record speaks for itself.

In 1935, he managed to set three world records within the space of an hour at a meeting in Michigan. It remains a feat that has never been equaled.

His greatest moment, however, came a year later, in a politically charged environment. Owens traveled to Berlin to take part in the 1936 Olympics – an event overseen by Adolf Hitler, which the new German chancellor hoped would profile the supremacy of the Aryan ‘master race’.

The African-American Owens stole the show. He won the 100m in 10.30 seconds, the 200m in 20.70 seconds, and then the long jump, with an impressive leap of 8.06 meters – apparently after getting some advice about his run-up from a German competitor, Luz Long.

His fourth gold came in the 4x100m relay, in which Owens formed a key part of the team that set a new world record of 39.80 seconds.

One popular tale that arose from Owens’s victories was that of the “snub,” the nation that Hitler refused to shake hands with Owens because he was an African American.

In truth, by the second day of competition, when Owens won the 100-metre final, Hitler had decided to no longer publicly congratulate any of the athletes.

Unaware of the situation, American papers reported the “snub,” and the myth grew over the years.

For a time, Owens held alone or shared the world records for all sprint distances recognized by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF; later International Association of Athletics Federations).

After retiring from competitive track, Owens engaged in boys’ guidance activities, made goodwill visits to India and East Asia for the U.S. Department of State, served as secretary of the Illinois State Athletic Commission, and worked in public relations. In 1976 Owens received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 1990 he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Jesse Owens’ achievements went beyond his athletic prowess. He became a symbol of hope and inspiration, breaking barriers and challenging societal norms. His success played a significant role in advancing civil rights and promoting equality in the United States.

Jesse Owens passed away on March 31, 1980, but his impact on the world of athletics and his contributions to the fight against racial discrimination remain timeless.

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