Why Famous:Considered the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history.
In less than an hour at the 1935 Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Owens set three world records and tied another in what has been called "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport" and has never been equaled.
Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, Germany. As the most successful athlete at the games he single-handedly crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy.
1935-05-05 Jesse Owens of US sets long jump record at 26' 8½"
1935-05-25 Track and field athlete Jesse Owens equals or breaks 4 world records in 45 minutes at a Big Ten meet at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Remembered as "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport".
1936-06-20 Jesse Owens of US sets 100 meter record at 10.2
1936-08-03 American sprinter Jesse Owens wins the 100m (10.3 seconds) in front of Adolf Hitler in a famous race at the Berlin Olympics, first of 4 gold medals at the Games
1936-08-04 American athlete Jesse Owens wins his 2nd gold medal at the Berlin Olympics; beats German Luz Long in the long jump final with an Olympic record
1936-08-05 American athlete Jesse Owens wins 200m in world record time (20.7), his 3rd gold medal of the Berlin Olympics
1936-08-09 Jesse Owens is part of the American 4 x 100m relay team that wins gold in world record (39.8) at the Berlin Olympics; his 4th gold medal of the Games
1953-01-19 Jesse Owens named Illinois Athletic Commission secretary
1955-10-18 Track & Field names Jesse Owens all-time track athlete
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