
By Blake Hoena, David Shephard (Illustrator)
Part of the Athletes Who Made a Difference series
An athlete defies a dictator's vision at the 1936 Olympics.
In 1936 Berlin, Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete, challenges Nazi ideals by winning four gold medals, shattering records and expectations. This graphic biography traces his journey from humble beginnings to Olympic glory, questioning the power of sport to confront prejudice and redefine history.
In 1936, Adolf Hitler attempted to make the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, a showcase of Nazi superiority with a new stadium and the first television broadcast of the Games. He didn’t account for African-American sprinter and long jumper James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, who smashed records throughout his track and field career. Owens turned Hitler’s Olympic vision on its head by winning four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. Along the way, he broke or equaled nine Olympic records and set three world records. In graphic nonfiction style, this biography takes readers from Owens’s early life to his historic athletic triumphs.
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