Jesse Owens

Fri 27 Jul 2012, 9:35pm

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The most famous athlete of his time, 22-year-old Jesse Owen's stunning triumph at the 1936 Olympic Games captivated the world even as it infuriated the Nazis.

In classic Olympic fashion, Owens became known not only for his athletic triumphs

Despite the racial slurs he endured, Owens' grace and athleticism rallied crowds across the globe. But when the four-time Olympic gold medallist returned home, he could not even ride in the front of a bus. This is the story of a sharecropper's son who triumphed over adversity to become a hero and world champion. It is also a story about the fleeting quality of fame.