Jesse Owens at the time was one of the greatest athletes on earth. He didn’t have it easy as he was under pressure from his community and Nation. America was in between World War I and World War II and Germany had been awarded the 1936 Olympics. America didn’t know if they were going to attend. Once they agreed it came down to the individual athlete if they wanted to attend the games. Jesse Owens was being pressured to not attend because he was one of the main black athletes of his time. He was a record setting track star and would be the key to the USA track team. Not only was he having to deal with issues in his own country, but Hitler had become a dictator in Germany by this time and had made it known he only supported his Aryan nation. Owens went on to win four gold medals angering a nation and their leader. He was able to block out the noise and put on one of the greatest performances of his time. He faced adversity and triumphed. He even inspired other athletes of all countries who couldn’t help but be drawn to him. They forgot about politics and enjoyed the great display that Owens had put on.

There was no social media at this time, but word spread rapidly. The games were being covered by a German film maker and made into the movie Olympia. Owens impact was known back in his own country but on an international scale as well. He made people forget about their beliefs and look at what someone can do. Not everyone changed but there was enough for it to make an impact. While Germany was focused on making propaganda and promoting their own athletes, they had no choice but to showcase Owens. Not only did Germany have to but the South featured a black athlete and that was unheard of. If people wanted to put it down, they couldn’t. He was one of a kind. He wasn’t the only athlete of color at the games, but his actions demanded that people look. The media had no choice but to talk about Owens because that was the only thing that everyone could talk about. He was the man that went and defied the great Aryan nation. He stared Hitler down and won. As Hitler refused to meet Owens face to face and shake his hand, he did show Owens a little sign of respect with a wave. For a man to do that with how he thought. How could one not talk about him. He was a great athlete not only back home but around the world as well.