|
Jesse Cleveland Owens was born in a small town called Oakville, in Alabama on September 12 1913.
His parents Henry and Emma decided to move to Cleveland, Ohio when Jesse was eight. They were a poor family, and hoped that Henry would be able to find a better paid job.
But Cleveland was not as prosperous as the family hoped, and the family remained quite poor. To assist with the finances, Jesse took on different jobs in his spare time. He loaded freight cars, delivered groceries and worked in a shoe repair shop.
One day during a gym class at school, the children were timed in a sixty yard dash, Coach Riley, who ran the class realised what a talent Jesse had and offered to coach him. Because of his work commitments Jesse could only train in the mornings before school, but because he loved to run it was not a hardship.
At Cleveland East Technical High School he equalled the world record 100 yard dash, while participating in the Interscholastic Championships in Chicago he did the same thing, also leaping a distance of 24 feet 9 5/8 inches in the long jump.
After leaving school Jesse attended Ohio State University. Because colour discrimination was still a way of life in America, Jesse found himself having to live off campus. And when the athletics team travelled they could only order carry out food or eat in black only restaurants.
Because Jesse had not been awarded a scholarship he still had to work part-time to pay for school, but his training never suffered.
In May 1935 Jesse was due to participate in Ann Arbour, but just one week before the event he fell down a flight of stairs and injured his back. It was doubtful whether he would be able to take part, but on the day of the competition he persuaded his trainer to let him take part in 100 yard dash, he surprised everyone by once again equalling the world record. Just fifteen minutes later he smashed the long jump world record by a massive six inches. He then proceeded to set a new world record in the 220 yard dash, and just fifteen minutes later the 220 yard hurdles.
In the same year Jesse married his long term school sweetheart Ruth Solomon.
Jesse was chosen for the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin. Ruth was worried that Jesse would not be able to give his best, as the pressure from the German "Aryan" athletes would be too great. But she had no reason to worry; Jesse went on to win Gold medals in the 100 and 200 metres, and the long jump. He was also on the 400 metre relay team. He had become the first American in the history of Olympic track and field events to win four Gold medals in a single Olympics.
Jesse then turned professional and began taking on numerous public speaking engagements.
In 1948 he retired from sports and began his own public relations firm.
In 1976 the President of the United States awarded him with the Medal of Freedom, the highest honour a civilian can receive.
Jesse died in Phoenix, Arizona on March 31 1980, leaving a wife and three daughters.
|
