A 22-year-old Jesse Owens at Ohio State, 1935 (colorized by Jorge Henrique Martins)

In one way or another, the following eight athletes continue to inspire us to this day.

Owens was born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama. Owens attended Ohio State University where he won a record eight individual NCAA championships.

Jesse Owens was a track and field star. His most famous moment came in the 1936 Olympics when he won four gold medals – much to the annoyance of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party who hoped the Olympics

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Jesse Owens, Berlin Summer Olympics, 1936

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Jesse Owens 1936 Olympian USPS stamp by Bart Forbes