You've probably never experienced what it's like to wear four beautiful Olympic gold medals around your neck. But a man named Jesse Owens did. He was an African-American track and field star who lived in 1900 and experienced the feeling of winning too many times to count. Jesse Owen's life was filled with childhood poverty, along with constant segregation and discrimination, yet he managed to entertain and demonstrate to the world that his exceptional abilities in athletics can come from any person, no matter how different they are. Jesse Owens' childhood began in Oakville, Alabama on September 12, 1913 (source 3). He lived with his father, Henry Cleveland Owens, mother, Emma Alexander Owens, and six siblings (source 2). When Jesse was a young boy, he constantly battled pneumonia and chronic bronchial congestion which left him very vulnerable to disease and illness (source 3). Yet, with many mouths to feed, everyone had to contribute. Because of the African-American race, the family did not get high-paying jobs. So, at the age of seven, Jesse was forced to work in the fields, picking about one hundred pounds of cotton a day to put food on their table (source 3). Despite this difficult childhood, Jesse Owens managed to get a decent education. Owens' future career was discovered in 1928 at Fairmount Jr. High School in Cleveland (source 6). Jesse participated in track and field events and achieved miraculous results. Jesse Owens set Jr. High School records in the high jump - flying over 6 feet, and in the long jump - clearing 22 feet, 11 ¾ inches (source 2). With this ability, his coaches encouraged him to pursue track and field in high school. In high school, Mr. Owens competed in a competition called Ohi... middle of the paper... hard work throughout his career. life. Best known for showing how results can be achieved even during difficult times, such as segregation and discrimination. His willingness to live up to what he was capable of is enough to be satisfied and for that reason we should all be more like Jesse Owens. Works cited "1936 Olympics - Inside Scoop!". 1936 Olympics - Inside Scoop!. Np, nd Web. 25 April 2014. .Bio.com. A&E Networks Television and Web. April 25, 2014. http://www.biography.com/#!/people/jesse-owens-9431142>."Biography." JesseOwens.com. Np, nd Web. April 25, 2014. “Jesse Owens Biography.” Online biography. Np, nd Web. April 25, 2014. “Owens, Jesse.” World Book N, O, 14. 2007 ed. 2007. Print.