Jesse Owens, a former Alabama cotton picker, confirmed his status as a legendary track and field figure in 1936, by winning four gold medals in the Berlin Olympics. But his first great conquest actually came more than a year earlier, on May 25, 1935, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he broke five world records and equaled a sixth. And he did it all despite a back injury suffered when he fell down a flight of stairs on his way to the stadium.

Owens began the meet by winning the 100 yard dash in 9.4 seconds, equaling the world record (one stopwatch showed a time of 9.3). Fifteen minutes later he was competing in the broad jump. His first jump was 8.69 yards (7.9 m). Then it was announced that Owens would attempt to break the world record, which he did with a jump of 8.943 yards (8.13 m). This record stood for 25 years until it was broken by another American, Ralph Boston. After the broad jump, Jesse Owens had just enough time to cross the field to line up for the 220 yard dash, but he won that event easily in 20.3 seconds. Two new world records had been set, not only for the 220 yards, but also for the 200 m, a mark that held up until 1949.

Owens could have rested on his laurels, but he was also entered in the 220 yard hurdles. He took his mark, and led the field for the fourth time. Two more world records went by the board the 200 m hurdles and the 220 yard hurdles—as Owens turned in a time of 22.6 seconds. And the future hero of the Berlin Olympics managed all this in one afternoon.

JESSE OWENS Born Sep. 12, 1913, in Danville, Ala.

AWARDS AND RECORDS
1936 OG: gold medal in the 100 m, 200 m, broad jump, and 4 x 100 m relay
World records: 100 m, 200 m, 220 yards, 200 m hurdles, 220 yard hurdles, broad jump, and 4 x 100 m relay
Owen's world record in the broad jump, set May 25, 1935, was broken in 1960, by Ralph Boston with a jump of 9.031 yards (8.21 m)

Photo: At the starting line of the 100 m dash in the 1936 Berlin Olympics