Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens (1913-1980) was an American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He is remembered as one of the greatest sprinters and long jumpers in history.
5 quotes in this collection. Read them below, share your favourites, or follow the related links to explore similar voices.
All quotes by Jesse Owens
-
“I decided I wasn't going to come down. I was going to fly.”
Meaning: Owens described his mindset on the long jump that set a record, choosing to imagine soaring rather than landing. The story appears in his biography. Use the same mental trick before a big task: picture the strongest outcome and commit to it fully. -
“I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals.”
Meaning: In a 1971 interview, Owens recalled that Olympic glory did not pay his bills after returning home, when work for Black athletes was scarce. It reminds us that fame fades while practical needs remain. Plan your life beyond a single achievement and keep building useful skills. -
“the only victory that counts is the one over yourself.”
Meaning: Owens measured success against his former self, not rivals. The remark is recorded in a biography of the Olympic champion. Apply it by tracking your own personal best, whether in a run, a workday or a habit, instead of comparing yourself with others. -
“It all goes so fast, and character makes the difference when it's close.”
Meaning: A sprint is over in seconds, Owens observed, so when two athletes are equal in speed, who they are decides the result. The line comes from his biography. In daily life, build honesty and composure in small moments so they hold when the pressure peaks. -
“The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals.”
Meaning: Owens, who won four golds in Berlin in 1936, said in his memoir that the struggles that shape a person happen away from podiums. Quiet fights with doubt, prejudice and fear matter most. Treat your own private battles, like showing up to train tired, as the real contest.