Jesse Owens
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens won four gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler and became the most powerful symbol of human dignity over ideology in sports history.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Jesse Owens
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Jesse Owens.
Often Compared To
Usain Bolt
#2Track & Field — Trelawny, Jamaica · 2004–2017
The fastest human in recorded history — and the most entertaining. Bolt made sprinting must-watch television with his showmanship and records that may stand for generations.
Florence Griffith-Joyner
#3Track & Field — Los Angeles, California · 1980–1989
Flo-Jo set the 100m and 200m world records in 1988 that still stand today — one of the most dominant Olympic performances in history, combined with a style that made her an icon.