What Were Jesse Owens Accomplishments

Jesse Owens was one of the fastest runners of his time. Jesse won the 1936 Olympic Games, which became a very famous event. Jesse Owens’ real name was James Cleveland Owens. He was born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama to a poor family. From the time he was a child, he was able to run very fast. However, even though Jesse was recognized for his athletic ability, he attracted world attention for other reasons, both political and racial. Jesse had to overcome many obstacles both in the United States and in Germany when he participated in the Olympics. Jesse Owens had a difficult path that lasted many years, before he became recognized as a great athlete.
Jesse Owens faced many obstacles starting at a young age. When Jesse was a child, he suffered from chest colds and pneumonia, …show more content…
When Jesse won a gold medal, it was one of his happiest moments. Later in his life, he won 3 more gold medals because he kept practicing and became an even faster runner (Josephson 12). After training with Coach Riley for about a year, Jesse ran the 100-yard dash in 11 seconds and the 220-yard dash in 27 seconds. Those were extremely fast times for any runner (Josephson 26). Jesse’s talent as a runner was very special, allowing him to beat three world records in just 45 minutes (Josephson 45). Jesse Owens made such a difference as an athlete, an African-American and a human being. After he died, important people like Louis Stokes made sure that he was recognized as a great athlete and role model (Notablebiographies.com). Jesse Owens died on March 31, 1980. Even after his death, Jesse has continued to inspire many different people. His life is a great example of what a person can accomplish if they don’t give up. Jesse also did not let racism affect him, which makes him an inspiration to anyone who has been the victim of racism. Most of all, Jesse was a gifted athlete who was determined to become the best runner he could possibly