True Courage: Jesse Owens 75 Years Later
- Posted on August 9, 2011 at 6:11pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier debuting for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, before the “Miracle on Ice” at the height of the Cold War in 1980, Jesse Owens dominated the 1936 Olympic Games using sport as a vector to show the world that competitiveness, integrity and courage are some of the greatest characteristics of our human identity, unattached to a single skin color or race. On this day 75 years ago, Owens earned his fourth Gold Medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976 and his record four gold medals would stand until 1984 when Carl Lewis tied Owens’ mark.
The grandson of a slave, representing a country where he was still racially discriminated against, Owens crushed the competition in the 100- and 200-meter events, set an Olympic record in the long jump that would not be broken until 1960 and led off the 400 relay team that set a world record that would stand until 1956. Owens‘ accomplishments in Berlin were a repudiation of Hitler’s belief that the games’ results would prove the superiority of the German “Aryan” people. ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap eloquently puts Owens’ accomplishment:
“A second-class citizen at home, a subhuman in Germany, Jesse Owens fashioned the greatest of all sports achievements. To be clear, nothing he did at Olympic Stadium could prevent the horrors to come. He saved no lives. However, for those paying close attention, Owens revealed essential truths in Berlin.
While western democracies were perfecting the art of appeasement and much of the rest of the world kowtowed to the Nazis, Owens stood up to them at their own Olympics, refuting their venomous theories with his awesome deeds.”
Where do you think Jesse Owens’ 1936 Olympics performance ranks among the greatest sports achievements of all-time?
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Give_heed
Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:27pmYes, courage!!!
Report Post »Verum Ad Potentia
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:44pmMay God bless Mr. Owens.
Report Post »one years food ration like glenn says
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:36pmhttp://youtu.be/6HEqEQl4-Hs
Report Post »mlcblog
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 3:33pmI think there’s no measure of this man or this event. He was unique.
Report Post »GreatGu
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:51amJessie Owens DID SHOW EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE; A black man in a time of extreme racial prejudice and NAZIS about to over run Europe, he performed with his head held high and put Hitler in his place. Remember who was the one that stormed out of the stadium. Jessie Owns deserves his place in history and should and must be remembered for his accomplishmenets and contribution to our Great Republic.
Report Post »CCRYDER
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:59pmHow old are you? Jesse Owens and others no doubt sent Hilter into a rage freaking out over the fact that blacks overtook his oh-so precious aryian athletes. It’s great to see and know that at time of such great hate in the world there were those brave enough to stand against it.
The question now is are we ready to stand against the evil that is moving swiftly in our world today?
Report Post »OneofMany
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 2:19pmand I bet if I do a little investigation, Jesse Owens was probably a strong Christian man….
Report Post »imreddog
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 2:57pmJesse Owens was a hero to a lot of young white boys when I was a kid… I remember that he was a hero to me.
Report Post »Now, when I looked at the video of all of the people with outstretched arms, saluting Hitler, the first thing that I thought was…. um, um, um, Barack Hussein Obama, um, um, um.
hrandym
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 7:46amAll Olympic athletes have talent and courage. I saw no remarkable courage here. Cite real courage, that exhibited by soldiers in the field. They are risking their lives. How about firemen? That’s courage, not running a track race. Of course, everyone has their own opinion of courage. i prefer the more genuine.
Report Post »10-32inIdaho
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:22amCourage is doing something you know you were meant to do even when others would do anything to stop you. Police, firefighters, soldiers, etc. define courage but it is reactionary most of the time. Dr. MLK had courage 30 years later. Put that in the context. 30 years later he marched for equal rights in the USA.The time was definately different then. Courage he surely had. If you think for a second Hitler would have passed up an opportunity for one of his SS to get Owens alone after this performance and get away with it, you are wrong. Any person who can inspire other to be better than they currently are is a hero.
Report Post »Give_heed
Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:22pmMay be you never heard of Hitler or his furnaces!!!
Report Post »pma_guy
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:47amI was very fortunate to meet Mr. Owens in 1973 when he spoke to a group of us at SHSU in Tx. He was one of the most sincere and humble people I’ve ever met. Someone you would like to call…friend.
Report Post »TrailerParkDave
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:41amTalk about setting the bar!! EXCELLENT!!
Report Post »mrhate
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 2:54amTruly a man among men! Thank you Mr. Owens!!!
Report Post »Arkansawyer
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 2:49amJesse Owens…..American.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:54amI think his achievements deserve to be at the very top. It was and incredible achievement, and overcoming the adversities that he had to just to be in the games. Against all ODDS he succeeded. What a remarkable and talented man.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:38amJesse Owens set a standard of excellence for every man and woman to aspire to. He singlehandedly destroyed Hitlers delusion of a master race. Plus he was a great Buckeye, so he had to be pretty special!
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:04am@THE10THAMENDMENT Absolutely!
Report Post »michaelmoron
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:56pmThat was an incredible long jump.
Report Post »AllHisChildren
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:31pmHitler’s racial ideas were of the devil.
Great for Jesse Owens as he had so much going against him, but proved himself to be a talented, hardworking, courageous competitor. God always humbles they who exalt themselves; therefore, Hitler was mysteriously missing when Jesse Owens boldly received his 4 Gold Medals. Good for the USA, Ohio State, and gifted people of all races. We’re All His Children.
Report Post »pattybbb1
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:56pmBorn Oakville, Alabama, right up the road from where I live!
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 11:51pmGod bless Jesse and those like him.
Report Post »firstgenesis
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:13pmWhen Jesse Owens won that 4th Gold Medal, Hitler walked out of the stadium. He said, “It’s not right to make my men race against this animal.”
Report Post »Communism, Fascism, and the belief that any one person is racially superior to another owing to any virtue or characteristic is completely WRONG.
“And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…”
YellowFin
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:18pmIt all worked out though, Mr. Owens is remembered with honor.
Report Post »Hitler is remembered as one of the worst men to ever suck up oxygen.
paulusmaximus
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:13pmThe true men of courage of that time have always inspired me, even though many were not shown the respect in latter years of their life, they did what they new in their hearts to do.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 9:54pmOn TOP.
Report Post »JRiFLY04
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 9:39pmLove this story,wish we had more people with his courage and determination .
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 9:25pmVery close to the top, he was a real man, genuine in every way, he proved Dr King’s words before they were spoken, deeds not color were and is what makes us human, and good. He is a hero for everyman and woman.
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