Tip of the Hat

Today marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of what is most likely the greatest individual athletic performance in history. On March 25, 1935, Jesse Owens was competing for Ohio State University at a track meet held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of arch-rival University of Michigan. To make the story short, in a span of 45 minutes Owens set world records in four separate individual events - 100-yard dash, long jump, 220-yard dash, and 220-yard low hurdles. Nothing of this nature had been accomplished before or since. Don't scoff at the era either. Owens' supreme athletic prowess is demonstrated by his 1935 long jump - had he been jumping in the 2008 Olympics and achieved the same distance, he would have placed seventh. This was an event which some say Jesse didn't fully focus or train.



Jesse Owens, May 25, 1935, 220-yard dash, Ann Arbor, Michigan