Q&A: Carl Lewis reflects on Jesse Owens

Assistant track & field coach Carl Lewis is forever linked to 1936 Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens after he matched Owens’ four gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. Over 80 years since Owens competed, Lewis is one of many still carrying on his story. | Thomas Dwyer/The CougarThe name Jesse Owens is brought up every year during Black History Month. Owens, who took on Nazi Germany at the 1936 Summer Olympics and won four gold medals in track & field, is to this day a reigning symbol for aspiring African American athletes across the country.

Assistant track & field coach Carl Lewis matched Owens’ four gold medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and has remained in the public light ever…