His dream of being a track and field athlete started by running through the streets of Cleveland Ohio. He spent his time running in the slums and a rundown neighborhood to get home. When the journey to college began, Jesse said goodbye to close family members and headed off to the bus to go to Ohio State with his friend Dave. Once they arrived, Dave and Jesse began working out on the track when Larry Snyder, the track coach, starts timing the boys. After working out, the boys go into the locker room when the all-white football team comes in and this is when the racism starts. The football team uses racial slurs and forces Dave and Jesse to let them shower first. Jesse thinks that this is normal because he doesn 't know any different. He leaves the locker room without sharing and heads to Coach Snyder’s office. During their conversation, Larry asks Jesse if he can work and Jesse says that he can and will work hard and his records should speak to that. Larry tells him that records are nothing because someone will always come along and replace them, it 's the metals that count, speaking about competing in the …show more content…
Jesse debates going and he talks to many people about this and they all tell him he needs to do what he wants. Coach tells him that he needs to go to the Olympic trials and then see what happens, so he at least gives himself a choice. Jesse qualifies for three events at the pre-trials. Jesse’s biggest reason for not going is that he thinks he will lose and Hitler will be right. If he goes, he believes he must win every event that he competes in to stick it to Hitler. Jesse chooses to compete and when the Americans arrive at Olympic village, they are given royal treatment. People are surprised when there are no colored dorms or tables, and that everyone sits together. Drama continues, and eventually Jesse gets his way over the things he wants and wins the 100-meter dash easily, for his first gold medal. Racism from Hitler continues, when he leaves and refuses to shake hands with “that,” speaking about Jesse. Next up, was broad jumping and Jesse fouled on his first two attempts and was successful on his third attempt to qualify for the finals. Jesse once again wins gold and set a new Olympic record in the event. Jesse gets his third Olympic gold in the 200-meter dash. The Americans had a quick meeting about the team race that two of the members that were Jewish would no longer be competing in because the Germans held back some of their faster runners. They decided to put Jesse in and he was able to win his fourth gold medal of the Olympics