Athletics at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games:

In 1935 the two top sprinters (and long jumpers) in the world were Jesse Owens and Eulace Peacock. In addition, Ralph Metcalfe, who had won silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200 in Los Angeles, was still a top sprinter, giving the USA a formidable threesome. At the most important American meet in 1935, the AAU, Peacock had won, with Metcalfe second and Owens third. Unfortunately he was injured early in 1936 and although he tried to make the American team, was not the runner he had been in 1935. The 1936 Olympics were a showcase for Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals, the 100, 200, long jump, and on the 4x100 relay. Further, in front the Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, he shattered their myths of Aryan supremacy.