Triumph

In 1936, amidst the rise of Nazi Germany, Jesse Owens, the African-American son of sharecroppers, shattered records and won four gold medals at the Olympic Games, challenging Hitler's ideology of Aryan supremacy. This account explores Owens' extraordinary journey and the complexities surrounding the games, including the controversial American participation and the friendship he forged with German rival Luz Long. Through in-depth family interviews and archival research, Jeremy Schaap vividly narrates this historic moment that transcends sports, revealing both the legacy of Owens and the broader societal tensions of the era.