From the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport to four Olympic golds to the longest standing 100m world record, Jesse Owens did it all. We look back at just how impressive Owens was in his prime and how athletes today have continued to raise the bar as years move along.

Jesse Owens’ Notable Highlights:

Big Ten Track & Field Championships

Ann Arbor, Michigan | May 25th, 1935



Pulls off “the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport”
9.4 100yd Dash (World Record)
8.13m Long Jump (World Record)
20.3 200yd Dash (World Record)
22.6 200yd Low Hurdles (World Record)

NCAA Track & Field Championships

Chicago, Illinois | June 20th, 1936



Breaks 100m World Record with a time of 10.2

Olympic Games

Berlin, Germany | August 3rd-9th, 1936



Wins 4 Gold Medals in 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and Long Jump

Jesse Owen’s 100m World Record stood for 20 years. No other 100m world record has ever stood for that long of a time period. Here is a timeline of the 100m world records since Owen’s historic 10.2 in 1936.

10.2 1936 Jesse Owens

10.1 1956 Willie Williams

10.0 1960 Armin Hart

9.95 1968 Jim Hines

9.93 1983 Calvin Smith

9.92 1988 Carl Lewis

9.90 1991 Leroy Burell

9.86 1991 Carl Lewis

9.85 1994 Leroy Burell

9.84 1996 Donovan Bailey

9.79 1999 Maurice Greene

9.77 2005 Asafa Powell

9.74 2007 Asafa Powell

9.72 2008 Usain Bolt

9.69 2008 Usain Bolt

9.58 2009 Usain Bolt

Who will be the next King of the 100m?

Trayvon Bromell (20 Years Old)

PBs: 9.84 | 20.03



1st 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championship 100m Dash
1st 2015 NCAA Indoor Championship 200m Dash
3rd 2015 IAAF World Outdoor Championship 100m Dash

Andre De Grasse (21 Years Old)

PBs: 9.92 | 19.88



1st 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championship 100m Dash
1st 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championship 200m Dash
3rd 2015 IAAF World Championship 100m Dash