In forty-five minutes, Jesse Owens broke four world records on this day in 1935.

On May 25, 1935, Jesse Owens, a 21-year-old Ohio State University track star, etched his name into the annals of sports history in an astonishing display of athletic prowess that remains one of the greatest achievements in track and field. Over the course of just forty-five minutes at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Owens broke three world records and tied a fourth. It was a performance that would become a symbol of excellence and resilience, paving the way for a future Olympic triumph and earning Owens an enduring place among the pantheon of all-time great athletes.

The stage for Owens’ remarkable feat was the Big Ten Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Michigan. Ferry Field, on that bright spring day, was packed with fans eager to witness some of the best collegiate athletes in the country. What they saw was not merely competition but a transcendent display of human ability that would change the landscape of track and field forever.

The 1935 season had not been easy for Owens. Just a week before the meet, he had suffered a severe back injury when he slipped in the shower, casting doubt on whether he would even compete. Yet, with a mix of determination and natural ability, Owens not only competed but obliterated the existing standards in four different events.

Owens’ day began with the 100-yard dash, an event in which he was already a national powerhouse. With his back still ailing, Owens lined up against a competitive field and blazed down the straightaway, crossing the line in 9.4 seconds. This tied the world record, and set the tone for what would become a day of unprecedented performances.

Next up was the long jump, an event in which Owens was especially gifted. Despite being in pain, he launched himself down the runway, and with a powerful burst, soared 26 feet, 8¼ inches (8.13 meters) — not just a new world record, but a leap so far beyond the previous mark (set by Chuhei Nambu at 26 feet, 2½ inches in 1931) that it stunned everyone present. The record would stand for a remarkable 25 years, a testament to just how far ahead of his time Owens truly was.

Owens then turned his attention to the 220-yard dash, a race that combined both raw speed and endurance. As he powered around the curve and sprinted down the straight, he crossed the line in 20.3 seconds — another world record. The race was more than just fast; it was a demonstration of perfect form and ferocious willpower.

Capping off his legendary day, Owens took to the 220-yard low hurdles. Despite his injury and the fatigue from three record-setting performances, Owens attacked the race with his usual ferocity. He crossed the finish line in 22.6 seconds, breaking yet another world record. In just forty-five minutes, Jesse Owens had rewritten the track and field record books.

The crowd at Ferry Field recognized immediately that they were witnessing history. Owens’ name was on everyone’s lips, and newspapers around the nation rushed to capture the magnitude of his achievement. The New York Times called it “the greatest collection of exploits in the history of the sport.” His Ohio State teammates and coaches celebrated not only the records but also Owens’ indomitable spirit, which had allowed him to triumph in the face of adversity.

To this day, sports historians and track and field enthusiasts regard Jesse Owens’ performance on May 25, 1935, as one of the most impressive single-day feats in athletics. Owens did not merely break records; he shattered them in succession, setting a standard for greatness that few have ever approached.

Jesse Owens’ impact extended far beyond the track. Born James Cleveland Owens in Oakville, Alabama, in 1913, he was the son of a sharecropper and the grandson of enslaved people. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, as part of the Great Migration when he was nine, seeking better opportunities in the industrial North.

From a young age, Owens demonstrated a love of running. His talent was nurtured by his junior high school coach, Charles Riley, who encouraged him to pursue track and field. By the time he reached high school, Owens had become a dominant sprinter and jumper, setting state records and drawing national attention.

Owens’ athleticism was matched by his quiet dignity. In an era of pervasive racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws, he rose above the bigotry he faced to become a symbol of hope and possibility. His achievements in 1935 were not just a testament to his physical gifts but also to his resolve to overcome the barriers placed in his path.

The records set on May 25, 1935, established Owens as the premier track and field athlete in the world and set the stage for his greatest moment: the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler intended to use the Olympics as a showcase for Aryan supremacy. Owens, an African American, challenged that narrative in the most direct way possible. At the 1936 Games, he won four gold medals — in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4×100-meter relay — humiliating the Nazi propaganda machine and becoming a global icon.

The roots of Owens’ Olympic triumph can be traced back to his record-breaking day in 1935. The confidence he gained, the sense of his own ability to overcome pain and doubt, and the knowledge that he could perform at the highest level under intense pressure — all of it formed the foundation of his Olympic glory.

Jesse Owens’ achievements in 1935 and 1936 resonated far beyond the world of sports. He became a powerful symbol of racial equality and a beacon of inspiration for generations of athletes who followed. His story is a reminder that greatness is not merely about physical ability but about the courage to confront adversity and the will to defy the odds.

In the decades after his athletic career, Owens continued to be a respected figure in American life. He became an ambassador for the sport, a speaker, and a role model for young athletes. His legacy was honored in numerous ways, including the establishment of the Jesse Owens Award, the highest accolade in American track and field.

Ferry Field, where his legendary forty-five minutes took place, has been preserved as a historical site, with a commemorative plaque marking the spot where Owens made history. Visitors today can stand at the very place where Jesse Owens leapt into the future of the sport.

Despite his fame, Owens faced significant challenges in the years after his Olympic triumph. In a racially segregated America, he found that his medals did not automatically open doors. Jobs were scarce, and he often had to rely on speaking engagements and exhibitions to support his family.

Yet Owens never allowed bitterness to cloud his outlook. He continued to believe in the power of sports to bring people together and in the importance of using his platform to advocate for fairness and opportunity.

In 1976, Owens received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Gerald Ford, a fitting tribute to a man whose athletic feats and personal character had helped redefine what was possible for African Americans and for all Americans.

Sports fans and historians still marvel at Jesse Owens’ performance on May 25, 1935. In an age without the advanced training techniques, nutrition, and equipment of modern athletics, Owens’ raw speed, power, and grace remain astonishing. His four world records in forty-five minutes stand not only as a testament to his own greatness but as a reminder of the heights that human beings can reach when they combine talent with determination.

Jesse Owens’ story continues to inspire athletes around the world. From track stars like Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt to young runners at the high school level, the example set by Owens resonates across generations.

His records have long since been surpassed, as technology and training methods have advanced, but the spirit of what Owens accomplished — the unbreakable will, the dignity under pressure, and the refusal to be defined by others’ limitations — will never be replaced.

May 25, 1935, was more than just a day of competition. It was a day when Jesse Owens, a young man from humble beginnings, showed the world what was possible. In forty-five minutes, he changed the landscape of track and field forever and laid the foundation for a legacy that would outlast him by decades.

As we look back on that day, nearly a century later, we do more than remember the numbers on the stopwatch or the distances marked in the sand. We remember the man behind them: his courage, his tenacity, and his unwavering belief in himself.

Jesse Owens’ record-breaking day in 1935 was not just a triumph of speed and strength; it was a triumph of the human spirit. And that, above all, is why his name still resonates as powerfully today as it did on that unforgettable afternoon at Ferry Field.