Used with permission of www.jesseowens.com
Jesse Owens,
WorldÕs fastest runner!
By Clara Smith
Jesse Owens is famous for breaking many world records in track and field. His full name is James Cleveland Owens, but his parents called him J.C. He was born on September 12, 1913 on a small farm in Oakville, Alabama.
His grandparents had been slaves. A large lump once appeared on J.C.Õs leg. His mother cut it off with a hot kitchen knife.
When he was in his teens, he moved to Cleveland with his family. When his teacher asked him his name, he said, ÒJ.C.,Ó but the teacher heard Jesse. So that was to be his name from then on.
He joined the track team and his coachÕs name was Charles Riley. Because he felt so close to Coach Riley, he called him Pop. Coach Riley also helped JesseÕs father get a job.
Jesse went to the 1936 Olympics. He struggled on his first two jumps, but on his third jump, a white man from HitlerÕs German team helped him. The GermanÕs name was Lutz Long. On JesseÕs third jump, not only did he win, but he broke a world record and later won the gold medal! People called him the worldÕs fastest runner.
Jesse Owens died March 31, 1980, at age 66. He also helped make better friendships between white and black people. Jesse Owens helped affect my life by proving Hitler was wrong. And Hitler was against black and Jewish people. Jesse Owens taught people that it matters who you are and what you do, not what you look like or your religion.
Bibliography
á Jesse Owens Olympic Star, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack, 1992
á A Picture Book of Jesse Owens, David A. Adler, 1992
á Jesse Owens, Mervyn D. Kaufman, 1973
á Jesse Owens Official Web Site: http://www.jesseowens.com