-
Jesse Owens is Born
Jesse Owens' real name was James Cleveland Owens. He was born in Oakville, Alabama. He was the tenth (and last) child in his family. He was born into a family of share croppers that didn't live in the nicest conditions. -
World War 1
World War 1 started in 1914 in Europe. It was originally called the Great War. Soldiers mostly fought in muddy trenches. The war ended in 1918. -
Jesse's Sickly Childhood
Since Jesse was born to the age of 6, he was small and sickly. His family couldn't afford medicine or pay for a doctor so they did the best they could. Jesse would have pneumonia for weeks at a time. He also got boils on his chest and legs so his mother had to carve the boils out of his flesh with a red-hot kitchen knife. -
Hard Times
Jesse was 17-years-old when he had to drop out of school to help his family make ends meet. His dad broke his leg so he couldn't work anymore. So Jesse had to quit school and get a job. Later his mom put him back in school, but he had to work after school everyday. -
Charles Riley
Charles Riley was Jesse's first track coach. Coach Riley would help Jesse train everyday and he taught Jesse the best technique for running. When Jesse couldn't join the track team because he was working after school; Coach Riley would work with him in the morning. He would bring Jesse breakfast so he could keep up his strength. -
The Great Depression
In 1929 the Great Depression started. Millions of workers found themselves penniless and hungry, standing in food lines. The first week of the depression, the stock market lost $30 billion dollars. The Great Depression ended in 1941. -
Babe Ruth
Jesse first met Babe Ruth at a celebratory dinner in Manhatten. Babe Ruth was seated next to Jesse at the dinner. Babe Ruth gave Jesse good advice about how sometimes, it isn't enough to want to win. Sometimes, you have to know that you will win. The advice helped Jesse at the 1936 Olympics. -
Racing To The Finish
At the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Jesse ran the 200-meter dash. When he ran it, his time was an astonishing 20.7 seconds. The 20.7 seconds was a world record. Jesse got 1st in that race and won the gold medal. -
Gold Medals
At the 1936 Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold medals. He won them for long jump, 100-meter dash, 200-meter race, and 400-meter relay race. Jesse was part of the U.S. Olympic team. During the 1936 Olympics, the weather conditions for Jesse weren't good because it wouldnt stop raining but he still did great. -
Soaring
Jesse set an Olympic record for long jump. He soared 26 feet, 5 5/16 inches. At first his first two jumps didn't count because he crossed the line. With the help of Luz Long, Jesse didn't cross the line to get a gold medal. -
Luz Long
Luz Long and Jesse became friends at the 1936 Olympics. Luz Long helped Jesse with long jump by giving Jesse good advice. Luz Long and Jesse were both competing for long jump. With the help of Luz Long, Jesse won the gold medal in the long jump. -
Mary Emma Owens
Mary Emma Owens was Jesse's mom. She inspired Jesse's life by urging her children to dream of greater things and to work to attain them. Mary Emma Owens kept Jesse in school even when times were rough so he could further his education. Also, so that he could run on his track team. -
World War 2
The Japanese bombed the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii. Four days later, Hitler declared war on the United States. This caused the United States to enter World War 2. The war ended in 1945. -
Death of Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens died at a hospital in Tucson, Arizona. He died at the age of 66. He died of lung cancer from smoking for 30 years. He had three children with his wife Ruth Solomon.
