Jesse Owens Wins 4th Gold Medal At Berlin Olympics

On this day in 1936, as noted by The People History, African-American athlete James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens, won his fourth gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.  Just before the competitions, Adi Dassler, founder of the Adidas athletic shoe company, persuaded Owens to wear Adidas shoes, essentially becoming the first sponsor of an African-American athlete.