Jesse Owens Biography

BIRTH: September 12, 1913,

Oakville, Alabama, U.S.

DEATH: March 31, 1980 (aged 66),

Tucson, Arizona, U.S.

Jesse Owens Biography: Olympic Athlete

Jesse Owens was an American track-and-field athlete known for his world record in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, in which he won four gold medals. He also made a world record in the long jump which remained unbroken for 25 years.

Jesse Owens’ full name was James Cleveland Owens. He was born to Henry Cleveland Owens and Emma Fitzgerald on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama.

When he was eight, J.C. (Owens’ nickname) moved to Cleveland, Ohio with his family. At the age of nine, on his first day at a public school, his teacher mistook “J.C.” to be “Jesse” because of his strong Southern accent. That’s how the name Jesse Owens stuck with him for the rest of his life.

By the age of seven, Owens started to work in his spare time. He went to Fairmount Junior High School for his early education. There he met Charles Riley, his high school track coach. His coach allowed Jesse to practice before school, making allowances for his work schedule.

Jesse started his career as a track-and-field athlete in 1928. Throughout his high school stint, he won every match he participated in, including the Ohio state championship three years in a row. The competition which gained Jesse immense attention was the 1933 National High School Championship in Chicago. He had set a new high school world record by running the 100 yards dash in 9.4 seconds.

Even though he was a student, Owens had already set the world record in the 100 and 220-yard runs and did remarkably well in long jumps. After he graduated high school, he was scouted by many colleges, but Jesse chose the Ohio State University.

In 1935, he took part in the Big Ten championships and broke three world records and won four individual events. Just before the competition, Owens suffered from a sore back, and his coach wanted him to rest instead of participating. He didn’t practice for many weeks before the competition but still made history. This boosted Owens’ confidence to take part in bigger competitions.

Owens entered the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics marking his most legendary accomplishments. Adolf Hitler had meant to use the Olympics as a device to justify the dominance of the German Aryans as a higher race. But Owens challenged his opinion when he became the first American track and field athlete to win four gold medals in one Olympiad. He became a role model for many people in that era, when race was a highly debated issue. His record for the long jump in the 1936 Olympics lasted for 25 years.

In Berlin, Owens received sponsorship from the Adidas shoe company. He became quite popular and was also asked to compete in Sweden. But Owens returned to his own country. He thought he would receive some profitable commercial deals after his Olympics win, but due to racial differences, he got a very different reaction in his home country. He didn’t receive any awards from President Roosevelt, who also did not congratulate Owens on his success, as was customary. Owens left university and focused on finding a job to earn money. He was forced to take part in various showcases (like racing against horses and cars) and played with the Harlem Globetrotters to make a living.

After retirement from amateur athletics, Owens dabbled in boys’ guidance activities and was offered to become a U.S. goodwill ambassador. He also served as a secretary for the Illinois State Athletic Commission.

Owens was a simple and loving man to his wife Ruth Solomon whom he married in 1932 and was married to for nearly 48 years. The couple was blessed with three daughters. He died on March 31, 1980, due to lung cancer.

Jesse was honored later in life in the manner in which he deserved. In 1970, he got inducted to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. In 1976, he was finally awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Many of his honors were bestowed upon him after his death. In 1980, he was presented with the highest U.S. award, the Congressional Medal of Freedom. An asteroid discovered the same year was named after him. Owens was depicted on two U.S. postage stamps. Many streets, schools, parks and stadiums are named after him as a tribute.