Jesse Owens An Incredible Athlete

I recently went to the movies to see the film "RACE" which was about an incredible athlete by the name of Jesse Owens. The film touched on both meanings of the word race. Jesse Owens was a record breaking runner and an Olympic gold medalist. He faced racial struggles during the 1930s in the United States and at the Olympic Games which took place in Germany during the Hitler regime. His story got my attention so much that I decided to research and write about it. The biopic told a great story but I wanted to dig deeper because there were still some minor details the film makers left out. Jesse Owens showed courage, strength, endurance and lots of passion for what he loved and believed. His story inspired me and left me speechless.

WHO IS JESSE OWENS?

      Jesse Owens was born as James Cleveland in Alabama on September 12, 1913. During his time in the South he developed a nickname J.C. because of his strong southern accent his teachers often thought he pronounced his name as "Jesse" instead of J.C. that later stuck with him for the rest of his life. Jesse's track and field career began in Junior high school where he set a record by leaping 22 ft 11 3/4 inches. In High School he won all of the major track events for three consecutive years. He set a new high school record in the 220 yard dash by running the distance in 20.7 seconds at the National Interscholastic meet. Setting this record landed him a spot on the track team at Ohio State University where he attended college.

       Ohio State University is where Jesse's career really began to blossom. Jesse came from humbling beginnings, he grew up poor and back then he wasn't able to get scholarships to attend school. He married early and started a family with his wife Ruth. He had to work several jobs in college along with going to practice and keeping up with his studies. Jesse worked as a waiter, night elevator operator, in the library and he often pumped gas for extra change. Jesse often ran injured, he continued to prove how excellent of an athlete he really was by still finishing first and setting new records. Jesse's coach was so impressed with him that he offered to train him for the upcoming Olympic Games in 1932. Just before the trial meet Jesse fell down a flight of stairs that injured his back but he refused to let that injury stop him from competing in the Olympic Games.

       He convinced his coach to let him run the 100-yard dash as a test for his back, and amazingly Jesse recorded an official time of 9.4 seconds, once again tying the World record. Jesse accomplished what many experts feel is the greatest athletic feat in history!

Challenges/Accomplishments

        During the 1930s segregation in America was strictly enforced. Blacks were often treated unfairly because of the color of their skin. Jesse had to sit in the back of the bus, go through the back to get in nice restaurants, treated unfairly by other members on his team etc. Despite the racial challenges he faced here in America, Jesse now had to make a huge decision on rather or not he attend the Olympics. Jesse often doubted his skill and he feared what he will deal with in a different country such as Germany where Hitler (Nazi) was currently the authority. Jesse battled back and forth with this decision. Finally with great encouragement from his family members he decided to compete and was determined to win! In the film someone asked him, "why do you love to run?" Jesse answered, "Because when I run I feel FREE." His coach taught him how to tune out the racial slurs/comments he would often hear from the crowd before he would race. He said, "it is just noise." Jesse also stated, "when I'm on the field I don't see color, you're either fast or slow!"

In 1936 Jesse entered the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany where he took home four gold medals in a single Olympiad... winning:

The 100 meter dash in 10.3 sec (tying the world record), long jump 26ft 5/4inch (Olympic record), 200 meter dash in 20.7 sec (Olympic record) and 400 meter relay (first leg) in 39.8 sec (Olympic record)

 It took twenty five years before another person broke Jesse Owens records. In Berlin and thereafter Jesse proved that he was a dreamer who could make the dreams of others come true, a speaker who could make the world listen, and a man who gave hope to millions of people. 

      

       Jesse got very little acknowledgement of all of these great accomplishments shortly after his return from the Olympics. Hitler didn't recognize him neither did the current president of the United States during this time.

In 1976, Jesse was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award given to a civilian by President Gerald R. Ford. In 1990-Owens was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George H.W. Bush.

"RACE"

Jesse Owens played by actor: Stephan James

Why You Should Go See It?

 

It's a story about HISTORY! It is inspiring, heart felt, encouraging, courageous and phenomenal. 

source: www.jesseowens.com