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A Runner’s Triumph over Racism: The Legend of Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics. By Brooke Blair. The 1936 Olympic Games. Held in Berlin, Germany Hitler was in power and banned all German Jews from competing in the Games 18 African Americans competed
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A Runner’s Triumph over Racism: The Legend of Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics By Brooke Blair
The 1936 Olympic Games • Held in Berlin, Germany • Hitler was in power and banned all German Jews from competing in the Games • 18 African Americans competed • 49 countries competed (the most in Olympic history up to that date) • The Olympic committee refused to let Hitler shake only the hands of German medalists so he didn’t shake any of the athletes’ hands.
Jesse Owens Pre- Olympics • Jesse was the son of sharecroppers, grandson of slaves and grew up in poverty • Held several records in track and field at his local high school in Cleveland, Ohio • Broke many records in track and field during his time at Ohio State
Olympic Success for Owens • Won fourgold medals at the Games in Track and Field: 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and the long jump • Broke or equaled 9 world records and set 3 • Defied Hitler’s theory that the ideal German population he was building was superior to everyone else. • Triumphed over racism to become an international hero
Owens’s Impact post Olympics • Became a symbol and hero for African Americans everywhere • Paved the way for many future African American athletes • Thanks to Owens African Americans began to gain more attention and respect in the United States. Some whites even supported the movement for African American rights.