Race

Jesse Owens challenged racists in the US and Nazi Germany. A new film delves into his amazing story, writes Will Lawrence

IF THE Western world’s greatest black heroes include the likes of Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela, top sprinter and long jumper Jesse James is not far behind. For all his success at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, however, where he won four gold medals, many observers feel that his achievements have not received the attention they deserve.

This now looks set to change with the release of a film about Owens, Race, which is directed by Stephen Hopkins.