Four Gold Medals Won by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin

Jesse Owens was an African-American sprinter from Oakville, Alabama that ran for the United States in the 1936 Olympics. During this time period African-Americans were very largely discriminated against yet Owens was allowed to stay in the same hotels as whites as well as travel with them while it remained illegal in many parts of the country. The 1936 games were held in Berlin so Hitler could show the world what Nazi Germany was capable of, and expected to have many of his "superior race" Germans to bring home the gold in many events. Jesse Owens won four gold medals: the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team. After each race, it is reported that Hitler only shook the hands of the German competitors while ignoring the others, including Owens.