After convincing his coaches, he ran the 100 yard dash. Even if Owens was not completely ready to run, he was determined to compete and do his best. He had recently fallen down a fight of stairs, and his coaches were not sure if he would be able to participate in the meet. On May 25, 1935, Owens traveled to The Big Ten track and field championships, being held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Unknown author / Public Domain via Pixabay Occasionally, a 'white' hotel would allow him to stay there but he was not allowed to use the elevators or the front door. On trips to away competitions he had to eat at 'blacks-only' restaurants and stay at similar hotels. In the early 1930's, all African-American students, including Owens, were required to live off campus. He did not receive a scholarship and instead paid for his own tuition by working three jobs in addition to keeping up his studies and training hard to become a great athlete.

Only after Ohio State found a steady job for his father that would support the family, did he enter college. Even though he had such great promise, he would not leave his family to be without his financial support.

Although many colleges were after Owens to be their athlete, he never looked at college as a serious possibility because his family and his wife (he married at eighteen) needed his financial support. In high school, he set national records in the 100m dash, 200m dash, and the broad jump (today called the long jump). Charles Riley, the Junior High track coach, noticed Jesse and began working with him before school hours, so he could still hold a part time job to help his parents pay bills. The young Owens entered city grade school and was accidentally given the name Jesse by a teacher when she recorded his name of 'J.C.' He raced with friends in the schoolyard and in his neighborhood. When James Cleveland, or J.C., was seven they sold their farming equipment and moved out of their small unheated home, setting foot for Cleveland, Ohio where they hoped to find prosperity. Their life was rough and there were times when not enough food was available for them all. He was the seventh of eleven children to be born to his parents, who made their living as sharecroppers. James Cleveland Owens was born on Septemin Danville, Alabama. A hero is someone who does more than help themselves, they never abandon someone who is relying on them, and they always make the best of every situation. They are focused and determined on working long and hard to always try harder than their hardest.

The thought never even crosses their mind. Bundesarchiv, Bild / CC-BY-SA 3.0 via WikimediaĪ hero is someone who can endure and overcome major challenges to achieve greatness.

Triumph the untold story of jesse owens