Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. Throughout his teenage years Robinson was a phenomenal athlete. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles and was a star player in four: sports, baseball, basketball, football, and track. In 1941, Robinson played professional football for the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Robinson played for the Montreal Royals baseball team, in 1945, which was a Brooklyn farm club for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Regardless of the incidents in spring training, he became the first African-American ballplayer in the league and won the league batting crown. Robinson then began playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Throughout his career, he won the league batting crown, and was named the National League’s MVP. He set numerous batting records. In 1962, Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame.Jesse Owens was born James Cleveland on September 12, 1913, in Alabama. Owens grew up the youngest of ten children. Jesse always loved running as a child, and one day during gym class the coach timed all of the children’s speeds in the 60 yard dash, the coach was amazed at Owen’s time and invited him to join the track team. Owens became a phenomenal athlete in high school, setting the world record for the 100 yard dash at 9.4 seconds. He attended college at Ohio State University. While in college Owens set many records while at the university. In 1935, Owens set many world records and tied a fourth, within forty-five minutes. Owens then entered the 1936 Olympics, also known as the “Hitler Olympics”. Jesse won the gold medal in 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the broad jump. He was also part of the 400-meter relay team that won the gold medal. Jesse Owens was awarder the Medal of Freedom in 1976, from President Gerald R. Ford.
Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman runner to win three gold medals at the Olympics, was born on June 23, 1940, in Tennessee. She grew up as one of nineteen children. Rudolph’s story is significant because she suffered from polio at an early age, preventing her from walking. In high school, she broke the state basketball record for girls, and was undefeated in all of her high school track meets. She attended Tennessee State University, in 1957. While in college she set the world record for 2000 meters in July, 1960. At the Olympics she won the gold medals for the 100-yard dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 400-meter relay. She became known as the “world’s fastest woman” and was named the U.S. Athlete of the Year in 1960, by the Associated Press.
On July 10, 1943, Arthur Ashe, was born in Richmond, VA. Ashe was the first African American to win a major tennis tournament. He played tennis throughout his teenage years until, and was awarded a tennis scholarship to UCLA in 1963. Ashe won the individual NCAA championship, and was part of the NCAA team championship in 1965. Ashe turned pro in 1966. At the professional level he won two grand slams, and in 1975 he won Wimbledon, becoming the only African American ever to win the Wimbledon Men’s Singles.
Throughout the month of February I will highlight some of African American’s greatest athletes. Next week I will cover the African Americans who are hall of famers in their respective sports.