On August 3, 1936, American athlete Jesse Owens wins the gold in the 100 meter dash at the Olympics in Berlin. Over the following days, Owens would go on to win the gold in the long jump, 200 meter sprint, and the 4x100 meter sprint relay for a total of four gold medals during the games. Born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama, Owens faced and overcame the challenges of not only his sport but also of the racism and prejudice of early-20th century America. Despite policies and laws which prevented him from living on campus or even eating at the same restaurants and staying at the same hotels as his teammates as well as being ineligible for scholarships due to his race, Jesse Owens quickly became a track and field star while attending Ohio State University. His abilities and talent landed him a spot on the US Olympic team in 1936. Owens' tremendous success at the Berlin Olympics not only gave Nazi Germany embarrassment due to being defeated by a man that their ideology deemed "inferior" but also provided hope and inspiration for African-Americans at home.
Owens' life following the Olympics held a mix of highs and lows, ranging from bankruptcy and prosecution on charges of tax evasion to his appointment as a goodwill ambassador by the US government and being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford. Jesse Owens would pass away on March 31, 1980, from lung cancer at the age of 66.
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