Jesse Owens Became A Janitor

American track athlete Jesse Owens returned home to limited opportunities after winning four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Racism made it difficult for him to earn a living despite his international fame, so he worked as a gas station attendant, a playground janitor, and a dry-cleaning manager. He also raced motorbikes, cars, trucks, and horses for prize money, later explaining, "I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals."

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