Jesse Owens 1913-80

He was a bit of a showman and even raced against horses for money. When asked why, he said: You can't eat four gold medals'

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IN PROFILE

Jesse Owens was a black American sprinter who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin - a feat that shattered Adolf Hitler's plans to use the games as a showcase for Aryan supremacy. President Roosevelt never publicly acknowledged Owens' triumph. However, in 1976 Gerald Ford awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of what is among the most iconic sporting achievements of the 20th century.

When did you first hear about Owens? It was at school while studying for my history O-level. I remember being fascinated by the story of this incredible black athlete who, by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, put a huge dent in Hitler's myth of an Aryan “master race”.