Jesse Owens, one of americans greatest track and field athletes, was born on a
small farm in Danville, Alabama. His parents were sharecroppers who migrated to
Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland was where Jesse first started his running career in
Junior High School. In Fairmount Junior high School a man named Charles Riley
taught there. Putting together a boy’s track team, Riley met Jesse, and timed
him in a sprint down East 167th street. He was amazed by Jesse’s speed. He
worked Jesse till he got to the Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Jesse received the
official Nazi Swastika from Reichfuekrer Adolf Hitler. Jesse ran the 100-m dash
with a time of 10.3 seconds, the 200-m dash with a time of 20.7 seconds, and the
400-m relay where he got a time of 39.8 seconds. In all three events Jesse won
the gold and set two world records. Jesse did one field event which was the
running broad jump where he won another gold medal and set a new record with the
measurements of 26ft 5 3/8. Jesse was known for his skills in track and field,
but most of all his dedication to it all. Jesse Owens lived from 1913-1980.