In 1936, America was years away from war with Nazi Germany. But long before the first battle of World War II, a starter's gun fired the first shot against the Nazis.

Adolf Hitler viewed the 1936 Berlin Olympics as a chance to show the superiority of the German "race" over the rest of the world. He never expected that an American, let alone a black American, would dash his dream.

Jesse Owens grew up during an age when segregation laws forced him to eat at separate restaurants and stay at different hotels. But Jesse never let it slow him down while setting world records and winning a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Once in Berlin, the triumph of Jesse's will helped him run through any barrier, winning not only Olympic gold but countless fans.

From the dust jacket