Jesse Owens

Every entry, with its source

At 0

1. Sep 12, 1913

   Born in Oakville, Alabama, to sharecroppers

   Youngest of ten. His name was James Cleveland, called J.C.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 8

1. c. 1922

   Moved to Cleveland at nine; a teacher renamed him Jesse

   She misheard J.C. in his southern accent. He never corrected it.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 19

1. Jun 17, 1933

   Tied the 100-yard dash world record as a high schooler

   9.4 seconds at the national high school championships in Chicago. He was 19.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
2. c. 1933

   Entered Ohio State University

   No scholarship. He worked jobs to pay his way and could not live on campus because he was Black.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 21

1. May 25, 1935

   Set three world records and tied a fourth in 45 minutes

   At the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, aged 21, with a sore back. His long jump record lasted 25 years.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
2. Jul 5, 1935

   Married Ruth Solomon

   They had met at 15 and stayed married for the rest of his life.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 22

1. Aug 3, 1936

   Won the 100 metres at the Berlin Olympics

   Age 22, in the stadium Hitler had built to showcase his regime.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
2. Aug 4, 1936

   Won the long jump, helped by advice from his German rival

   Luz Long, who took silver, was the first to congratulate him.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
3. Aug 9, 1936

   A fourth gold in the relay

   After the 200 metres on the 5th. No one matched four track golds in one Games until 1984.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org
4. Aug 1936

   Banned from amateur athletics after skipping a European tour

   He went home to cash in on his fame. The endorsements mostly did not come.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 23

1. c. 1937

   Raced against horses and cars for money

   He also toured with a jazz band and later ran a dry-cleaning business that went bankrupt.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 41

1. c. 1955

   Named Ambassador of Sports by President Eisenhower

   He toured India and Southeast Asia and became a sought-after speaker.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 52

1. c. 1966

   Convicted of tax evasion and forced into bankruptcy at 52

   The judge cited his character and imposed only a fine.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 62

1. Aug 5, 1976

   Presidential Medal of Freedom at 62

   Awarded by Gerald Ford, 40 years after Berlin.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org

At 66

1. Mar 31, 1980

   Died of lung cancer in Tucson at 66

   A pack-a-day smoker for 35 years.

   Source: en.wikipedia.org