One of the most influential events in American history occurred when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This achievement and others he would achieve throughout his life, given the historical context in which he became famous, inspired people for many generations. Jesse Owens created a historic legacy not only for his track records, but also for the difficult times in which he competed. Born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, Jesse Owens grew up working on several farms. Jesse's father, a sharecropper, worked for small wages cultivating other people's land. As children, Jesse and his six brothers picked cotton on a rich man's farm in Alabama. At the age of nine the Owens family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Jesse worked in grocery stores as a nine-year-old in Cleveland to bring in extra money for his family. (Raatma 8-9) Jesse began running track and field in middle school. In 1928 he set numerous school records, including leaping nearly twenty-three feet in the long jump (“About Jesse Owens” 1). Jesse attended East Technical High School in the 1930s where he continued to set records and develop as a track and field star. In fact, in his junior year, at the National Interscholastic Championships, Jesse set the record at 220 yards and tied the world record in the 100 yards. The city of Cleveland, to show its pride, honored Jesse Owens with a city parade that marked his debut in the spotlight. (Raatma 13)After an impressive high school track and field career, Jesse Owens studied at The Ohio State University. He did not receive a scholarship for his athleticism, so he had to work many jobs to pay for his education. Jesse disliked academics... middle of paper... d The Field Hall of Fame 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 just four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics. He showed the world that anyone can do whatever they want if they follow their dreams . Owens created a lasting legacy not only for his record times, but also for the obstacles he overcame that plagued minorities in Hitler's Germany. The influential story of the Berlin Olympics as told by Jesse Owens has become an important part of American history as it symbolizes the drive of the American spirit to succeed despite the challenges we may face.