Today is a pretty special day we’d like to remind you of. One of the greatest athletes in one of the most historic athletic events of history got the first of his four gold medals in Berlin during the Olympics in 1936. His name was Jesse Owens and he did it in front of Adolf Hitler — winning the 100m dash with relative ease.
There are plenty of moments and events to be proud of when it comes to Ohio State, but Owens is on the shortlist of iconic amateur athletes that did some extraordinary things just prior to one of the most tumultuous times in world history.
I’m not sure we can truly appreciate what the Buckeye Bullet did during those Olympics. Not only did he win four gold medals — also winning the 200m, long jump, and 4x100m relay — but he did it in a rather hostile environment in front of the world and Nazi Germany.
Amazingly enough, Hitler reportedly both saluted and shook the hand of Owens, yet he never received an invite to the White House from his own country.
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