Jesse Owens and the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Published May 19, 2023

By Yanis Sebti

As the debate for the greatest Olympian of all time continues to live on, the story of American track and field hero Jesse Owens is one of inspiration and bravery to all.

The 1936 Summer Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had awarded the games to Berlin two years before the Nazi Party had risen to power. The United States saw increased movements to boycott the games as many believed African Americans should not participate and promote a racist regime. But the American Olympic Committee President had called out those who believed so as “un-American agitators”. Led by Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party saw the Olympic Games as a way to assert its racial superiority and spread Nazi propaganda to the world. Newly constructed stadiums with Nazi banners and symbols were heavily present and "Aryan only" policies were put in place. Adolf Hitler wanted the Berlin games to be the perfect opportunity to showcase Aryan racial dominance, but an almost opposite scenario occurred after Jesse Owens's historic track and field performances disrupted that vision.

Jesse Owens was no stranger to racial discrimination. Throughout his life, he was the grandson of an enslaved person and was raised in Alabama where Jim Crow laws were heavily present during that time. At the time, it was extremely difficult for black athletes in the United States to find opportunities to compete in professional and college sports. Even though Owens did not receive any scholarships for his athletic prowess when he attended Ohio State University and was forced to sleep at “blacks-only” hotels, that did not stop him from breaking five world records in 45 minutes at the 1935 Big Ten track meet, a moment known as "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport.”

A year later, the Berlin Olympics saw Owens win four gold medals to become the first American track and field athlete to do so at a single Olympic Games. His historic performances came as a shock to Adolf Hitler as he witnessed packed stadiums in Berlin cheering in support of Owens. Owens became a symbol of success in Germany, where he stated he received some of the greatest ovations of his career. The success of the other 17 African American athletes who won 14 medals portrayed the power of sports and the message it helped voice. For the first time, African American athletes were able to assert their presence and showcase their skills to the international community on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages. Their message wasn't only about the athletic performances they were able to showcase, it was about the hardships, racial discrimination, and journey that led them to this moment.

After Owens came home to the United States with his record-breaking performances, he felt that he was left unrecognized. He famously stated: "Hitler didn't snub me, it was our President who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram. I wasn't running against Hitler. I was running against the world." During a parade to honor his accomplishments held in Manhattan, Owens was not even permitted to enter through the main doors of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, he was escorted in a freight elevator. Only white Olympians who competed at the 1936 Olympics were invited to be honored at President Franklin D. Roosevelt-led White House.

This was a reflection of the political and racial environment the United States and the world were facing during that time. The same discrimination African American athletes faced before the games were still present; however, a new narrative portraying that change was possible was on the rise. People now understood the importance of giving African Americans a chance and their participation in sports increased in the years ahead. It was also ironic that the American Olympic Committee President stated that those who would not compete at the games were “un-American agitators” when Owens and the 17 African American athletes represented the United States at its best during the games. Sports can be a powerful tool for diplomacy when used at the right moment and as a way for countries to showcase their values and culture to the world. The Games allowed African American athletes to pave their way in United States history and to use sports as a way to do so.

Owens’s life after his success at the 1936 Olympic Games came with its struggles. The lack of opportunities for African American athletes was still very limited but Owens’s story inspired a new generation to fight for their rights and find ways to change that. Owens decided to pursue a different career path and was named a goodwill ambassador by President Dwight. D Eisenhower, where he promoted amateur programs and spoke on the impact sporting competitions had on race. Owens was able to show the world that anyone is able to break stereotypes in the face of adversity and discrimination. His long-lasting legacy still continues to inspire generations of athletes in the world.

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Yanis Sebti is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Diplomacy program at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He currently works at JTA Pacific, a public and international relations agency specializing in the Olympic movement. Prior to USC, Yanis earned his BA at the University of California, San Diego in International Studies and International Business. He can be reached at sebti@usc.edu.

References:

From Horse-Racer to Speech Writer: Jesse Owens’ Life after the Olympic Games

Jesse Owens Biography, Olympic Medals and Records

“Jesse Owens.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 1 Apr. 1980

“‘Running Against the World.’” WHHA (En-US)

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.