James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville Alabama. Owens was the youngest of 10 children born to Henry Cleveland Owens and Wife Mary Emma. His parents worked as sharecroppers and his grandparents were slaves. Owens was often sick suffering from chronic bronchial congestion and pneumonia. Still, at an early age, Owens was expected to work, picking up 100 pounds of cotton despite the fact that he a frail child, in order to help in providing for the family. At the age of 9 in 1922, Owens family decided to move to Cleveland, Ohio. There he learned that life was very much different from the “slower, southern life” that he’d known. School seemed to be one of the biggest challenges that young “J.C” had to face. Coming
…show more content…
During that time in Fairmont High, his gym teacher, Charles Reilly saw the rare athletic talent that Jesse had. Since Jesse was working extra hard to help in providing for his family, he and his coach worked together and allowed Jesse to practice early morning before school starts. Reilly showed Jesse many things such as manners, etiquette and how to be polite. While on the track, Reilly taught Jesse how to run like a “racehorse” and told him to never look left or right because that could make him lose his focus. When Jesse moves to East Technical High school, he began to establish a name for himself in the sport of track and field. In High School, he ran 100 and 200 meters, the broad jump and hurdles. In the year of 1933, at a National High School Championship held in Chicago Illinois, Jesse tied the world record in the 100 yard dash (91 meters) “finishing in 9.4 seconds”. Jesse also competed in long jump and “leaped an astounding 24 ‘9.5” (7.56 meters).” Because of these competitions, he quickly gained a lot of interest from many universities across the …show more content…
Before going overseas he married his high sweetheart. The two had been together for 15 years and already had a two year old daughter named Gloria and later on had two other kids, Beverly and Marlene Owens. Because of his family, he was inspired and motivated to be more victorious. When Jesse arrived in Germany for competition, he won his opening event defeating his college teammate Ralph Metcalfe by one tenth of a second. Jesse later received advice from Luz Long, an athlete that held the European long jump record and had set an Olympic record in his preliminary jump. Because of the advice given to Owens, he was easily qualified with his next jump. During the final, the two, Owens and Long, went back and forth, each breaking the Olympic record until Jesse “ took off with a leap of 8.06 meters garnering him the gold medal while Long was awarded the silver.” The two walked off the track “arm in arm”, much to the embarrassment of Hitler. Jesse later said “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be plating on the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.” During that time in Germany, Jesse was allowed to stay in the same hotel as his white teammate and was allowed to eat in the same restaurant. He was being treated as a huge star in public places. Although some of his white teammate
During that time in Fairmont High, his gym teacher, Charles Reilly saw the rare athletic talent that Jesse had. Since Jesse was working extra hard to help in providing for his family, he and his coach worked together and allowed Jesse to practice early morning before school starts. Reilly showed Jesse many things such as manners, etiquette and how to be polite. While on the track, Reilly taught Jesse how to run like a “racehorse” and told him to never look left or right because that could make him lose his focus. When Jesse moves to East Technical High school, he began to establish a name for himself in the sport of track and field. In High School, he ran 100 and 200 meters, the broad jump and hurdles. In the year of 1933, at a National High School Championship held in Chicago Illinois, Jesse tied the world record in the 100 yard dash (91 meters) “finishing in 9.4 seconds”. Jesse also competed in long jump and “leaped an astounding 24 ‘9.5” (7.56 meters).” Because of these competitions, he quickly gained a lot of interest from many universities across the …show more content…
Before going overseas he married his high sweetheart. The two had been together for 15 years and already had a two year old daughter named Gloria and later on had two other kids, Beverly and Marlene Owens. Because of his family, he was inspired and motivated to be more victorious. When Jesse arrived in Germany for competition, he won his opening event defeating his college teammate Ralph Metcalfe by one tenth of a second. Jesse later received advice from Luz Long, an athlete that held the European long jump record and had set an Olympic record in his preliminary jump. Because of the advice given to Owens, he was easily qualified with his next jump. During the final, the two, Owens and Long, went back and forth, each breaking the Olympic record until Jesse “ took off with a leap of 8.06 meters garnering him the gold medal while Long was awarded the silver.” The two walked off the track “arm in arm”, much to the embarrassment of Hitler. Jesse later said “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me in front of Hitler… You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be plating on the twenty-four karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.” During that time in Germany, Jesse was allowed to stay in the same hotel as his white teammate and was allowed to eat in the same restaurant. He was being treated as a huge star in public places. Although some of his white teammate