Owens’ grandson Stuart Owen Rankin describes the track and field great’s actions as a “thumb in the eye” to Hitler. Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images‘A bond, a brotherhood, a connection’Another enduring memory from the 1936 Games was Owens’ connection with the German long-jumper Luz Long. Owens and Long were seen as the two favorites to compete for the gold medal in the long jump at the Berlin Games. According to Rankin, Owens said Long offered him advice on how to not overstep, which was an issue the US athlete was having in the long jump qualifying competition. DHM/ullstein bild/Getty Images)StridesAfter the Berlin Games, widespread, institutionalized racism and segregation in the US meant Owens’ achievements weren’t fully appreciated when he returned home.

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Persons: Jesse Owens, Adolf Hitler, White, Owens, Owens ’, Stuart Owen Rankin, Hitler, “, ” Rankin, CNN’s Don Riddell, ” Jesse Owens, Luz Long, Long, Rankin, ” Owens, Juergen, Shutterstock Rankin, ” Long, scrolled, Julia Long, Long’s, ”, Julia, weren’t, AP Owens, Gerald Ford, George H.W, Bush Organizations: CNN, Olympics, Nazi, Fox, Berlin Games, American, Games, AP, White Locations: Berlin –, Nazi Germany, Berlin, White, American, Munich, York, United States, America