38 Interesting Facts about Jesse Owens

Dan May 2, 2023

Jesse Owens (1913-1980) was an American track and field athlete who is best known for his performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he won four gold medals and shattered multiple world records. Born in Alabama, Owens grew up in poverty and faced significant racial discrimination throughout his life. Despite these challenges, he excelled in athletics from a young age and went on to become one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

At the Berlin Olympics, Owens won gold in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, and the 4×100-meter relay, breaking or equaling nine Olympic records and setting three world records in the process. His victories were a major blow to Adolf Hitler’s theory of Aryan superiority, and Owens became a symbol of hope and inspiration for people around the world.

After the Olympics, Owens returned to the United States to face more discrimination and hardship. He struggled to find work and was often relegated to performing as a sideshow attraction. Nevertheless, he continued to speak out against racism and injustice, and he remained an influential figure in the world of sports and beyond.

Today, Jesse Owens is remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time and as a trailblazer who broke down barriers of race and prejudice. His legacy continues to inspire athletes and activists around the world, and his story serves as a reminder of the power of courage, determination, and hope in the face of adversity.

Jesse Owens

To know more about Jesse Owens, let’s take a look at these 38 interesting facts about Jesse Owens.

1. Jesse Owens was born James Cleveland Owens on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama.
2. His parents were sharecroppers and he was the tenth of eleven children.
3. Owens’ family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was nine years old.
4. He got his nickname, Jesse, from his schoolteacher who misheard his name when he introduced himself as J.C.
5. As a child, Owens was often sickly and had chronic bronchial congestion.
6. Despite this, he began to show a talent for running at a young age.
7. Owens set a junior high school record for the high jump in Cleveland and was recruited to the school’s track team.
8. He attended Ohio State University, where he continued to excel in track and field.
9. Owens won his first NCAA championship in 1935, setting a world record in the process.
10. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens won gold in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, and the 4×100-meter relay.
11. Owens’ victories at the Berlin Olympics were a major blow to Adolf Hitler’s theory of Aryan superiority.
12. After the Olympics, Owens was not invited to the White House or honored by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
13. He faced significant discrimination and hardship when he returned to the United States.
14. Owens was forced to race against horses and perform in sideshows to make a living.
15. He eventually found work as a playground supervisor and later as a public relations representative.
16. Owens served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
17. He worked as a traveling speaker and delivered speeches on behalf of the United States Information Agency.
18. Owens was inducted into the Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1951.
19. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
20. Owens died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980.
21. His funeral was attended by dignitaries and sports stars from around the world.
22. Owens was married to Ruth Solomon from 1935 until her death in 2001.
23. They had three daughters together.
24. Owens had a brief career in professional baseball, playing for the Negro American League’s Kansas City Monarchs.
25. He also had a brief career in professional basketball, playing for the National Basketball League’s Toledo Jeeps.
26. Owens set a total of 15 world records during his career in track and field.
27. He was a devout Christian and credited his success to his faith.
28. Owens was featured in a postage stamp series celebrating Black athletes in the United States.
29. The Jesse Owens Foundation was established in 1980 to support minority youth in their pursuit of higher education.
30. A museum dedicated to Owens’ life and legacy opened in his hometown of Oakville, Alabama in 1996.
31. Owens was featured in the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he was honored with a standing ovation.
32. The Ohio State University named their indoor track and field facility after Owens.
33. Owens’ record-setting long jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics stood for 25 years.
34. Owens was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
35. Owens’ life and legacy were the subject of the 2016 biographical film “Race.”
36. Owens was known for his signature style of wearing his track pants rolled up above his ankles.
37. Owens was a vegetarian later in life and attributed his good health to his diet.
38. In addition to his athletic achievements, Owens was a talented jazz drummer and played in several bands throughout

Jesse Owens is remembered not only for his athletic achievements but also for the tremendous impact he had on the world during a time of great turmoil and discrimination. He faced immense challenges and obstacles but persevered with incredible grace and dignity, becoming a symbol of hope and inspiration for generations to come. His legacy continues to inspire and motivate people around the world, and his story serves as a reminder of the power of perseverance, determination, and the pursuit of excellence. Jesse Owens’ impact on history will forever be remembered and celebrated, and his name will always be synonymous with greatness in the world of sports and beyond.