A Rare Recording of Sports Icon Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 - March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete who made history at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, by winning gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4 × 100-meter relay. He was the most successful athlete at the Games and, as a black American man, was credited with single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. Owens remains as one of the greatest athletes in track and field history. The following audio clips include an interview with Owens by German radio just before competition at the Olympics, and three separate takes of an interview with American media shortly after the games.