Full Name
Date of Birth
September 12, 1913
Date of Death
March 31, 1980
Place of Birth
Oakville, Alabama, United States
Place of Death
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Education
- East Technical High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
- Ohio State University
Spouse’s Name
- Ruth Solomon (m. 1935)
Known Affiliates Names
- 1936 Summer Olympics (athlete)
Affiliated Organizations’ Names
- 1936 Summer Olympics (athlete)
Major Events
- 1936 Summer Olympics (won four gold medals)
Brief Biography
Jesse Owens, born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama, was an American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. His victories in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay were a significant blow to Adolf Hitler’s intention to use the Games to demonstrate Aryan supremacy. Owens’ athletic career began in high school, and he continued to excel in track and field events while attending Ohio State University. After retiring from competitive sports, Owens engaged in boys’ guidance activities, served as secretary of the Illinois State Athletic Commission, and worked in public relations. In 1976, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 1990, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal[1][2][3][4][5].
Citations: [1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesse-Owens [2] https://www.biography.com/athletes/jesse-owens [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens [4] https://olympics.com/en/athletes/jesse-owens [5] https://jesseowens.com/biography/