One of the most significant events in American history occurred when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This and other accomplishments that he achieved during his life, given the historical context in which he became famous, have inspired many generations. Jesse Owens created a historic legacy not only because of his track records, but also because of the difficult times in which he competed. Born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, Jesse Owens grew up working on several farms. Jesse's father, a sharecropper, worked for a small fee cultivating other people's land. When they were young children, Jesse and his six siblings picked cotton on a wealthy man's farm in Alabama. At age nine, the Owens family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Jesse worked in grocery stores at the age of nine in Cleveland to bring in extra money for his family. (Raatma 8-9) Jesse started running track and field in middle school. In 1928, he set numerous college records, including leaping nearly twenty-three feet in the long jump ("About Jesse Owens" 1). Jesse went to East Technical High School in the 1930s where he continued to set records and develop as an athletic star. In fact, during his junior year, at the National Interscholastic Championship, Jesse set the record for the 220-yard dash and tied the world record for the 100-yard dash. The city of Cleveland, to demonstrate its pride, honored Jesse Owens with a citywide parade marking his debut in the spotlight. (Raatma 13) After an impressive high school athletic career, Jesse Owens attended Ohio State University. He did not receive a scholarship for his athletic ability, so he had to work many jobs to pay for his education. Jesse didn't like academics... middle of paper ......d The Field Hall of Fame has inducted Jesse Owens into its ranks. Two years later, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ford. In 1979, President Carter presented Jesse Owens with the Living Legend Award. That year, Jesse also learned he had lung cancer. Jesse Owens died of lung cancer on March 31, 1980. (Raatama 35-37) Jesse Owens won more than four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. He showed the world that anyone can do what he wants if he pursues his dreams. Owens created a lasting legacy not only because of his record-breaking filming time, but also because of the obstacles he overcame that tormented minorities in Hitler's Germany. Jesse Owens' influential story of the Berlin Olympics has become an important part of American history because it symbolizes the drive of the American spirit to succeed despite the challenges we may face..