Originally published on May 25, 2020. Special thanks to one of my spiritual leaders, Chris Turner.
Today, 25 May 2020, is the 85th anniversary of Jesse Owen’s amazing 6 world records in 45 minutes. On that day, Jesse Owens equalled the World record for the 100 yards at 9.4w seconds. Next, Jesse leaped 8.13m for the long jump, a new world record. Then, Jesse Owens ran the 200m/220 yards in a world record of 20.3 seconds (this counted as 2 world records, 200m and 220 yards). He set his fifth and sixth world records of the day, all in forty-five minutes, in the 200m/220 yard hurdles, which he ran in 22.6.
The following year, in 1936, Jesse Owens made Olympic history with his four Olympic gold medals in Berlin.
In the following feature, posted today on the World Athletics site, Chris Turner, Director of Athletics Heritage, tells us about this amazing day.
Seb Coe with Jesse Owen’s gandson, Stuart Rankin, and Jesse Owen’s singlet from Ohio State
Jesse Owens is most famously remembered for his four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Less often recalled, a little more than a year before Owens’ Olympic triumphs, he set a series of world records in one afternoon which ‘Sports Illustrated’ described as the “Greatest 45 minutes ever in sports” history.
Today, 25 May 2020, marks the 85th anniversary of Jesse Owens’ setting four world records in 45 minutes in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The tally was in fact six world records, as two of the races he ran accrued him two world records apiece, the 200m/220yd (20.3s) and 200m hurdles/220yd hurdles (22.6).
Competing for Ohio State University and wearing a red cotton singlet with ‘OHIO’ emblazoned on the chest in large white capitals, Owens’ record spree that afternoon also included him equalling the 100yd world record (9.4) and becoming the world’s first eight metres long jumper in history with his 8.13m leap.
To enjoy the entire piece, with the exciting photos, please go to: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/jesse-owens-world-records-ann-arbor
