Jesse Owens wins the first of four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, undercutting Nazi propaganda of Aryan supremacy.
At a Glance
- Date
- 3 August 1936
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
- Key people
- Jesse Owens
- Category
- Sports
- Source
- 1936 Olympic records · Britannica
What It Meant Then
His triumph before Adolf Hitler became a global symbol of Black excellence.
What It Means Now
Owens is remembered as one of the greatest track and field athletes in history.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Jesse Owens Wins Gold at the Berlin Olympics.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jesse-owens-wins-gold-at-the-berlin-olympics/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Jesse Owens Wins Gold at the Berlin Olympics. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jesse-owens-wins-gold-at-the-berlin-olympics/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Jesse Owens Wins Gold at the Berlin Olympics.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/jesse-owens-wins-gold-at-the-berlin-olympics/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.