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	News Jesse Owens Gets New Shoe 09-07-2008 In honor of his tremendous accomplishments, Adidas has released one of its newest shoes in commemoration of Jesse Owens Full Story >> Biography His stunning victories and achievement of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin has made him the best remembered of all Olympic athletes. Fast and fierce, Jesse Owens sprinted his way into the history books. James Cleveland Owens was born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, the seventh child of Henry and Emma Owens. When James (J.C.) was nine his parents decided to move the family to Cleveland, Ohio. They did not have much money, and J.C.'s father was hoping to find a better job there. When they arrived in Cleveland, J.C. was enrolled in a public school. On his first day of class when the teacher asked his name, she heard Jesse, instead of J.C. due to his southern drawl. He would be called Jesse from that point forward. Cleveland was not as prosperous as Henry and Emma had hoped and the family remained very poor. Jesse took on different jobs in his spare time. He delivered groceries, loaded freight cars and worked in a shoe repair shop. It was during that time that Jesse discovered he enjoyed running, which would prove to be the turning point in his life. One day in gym class, the students were timed in the 60-yard dash. When Coach Charlie Riley saw the raw, yet natural talent that young Jesse had, he immediately invited him to run for the track team. Although Jesse was unable to participate in after-school practices because of work, Coach Riley offered to train him in the mornings. Jesse agreed. At Cleveland East Technical High School Jesse became a track star. As a senior, he tied the world record in the 100-yard dash with a time of 9.4 seconds, only to tie it again while running in the Interscholastic Championships in Chicago. While in Chicago, he also leaped a distance of 24 feet 9 5/8 inches in the broad jump. Full Biography >>
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