Aug 8, 2024 - History

Throwback Thursday: Ohio's Olympic greats

Tyler Buchanan

Jesse Owens sprints across the finish line of the 1936 100-meter dash race. — Jesse Owens, who grew up in Cleveland and ran track for OSU, earned four gold medals in sprinting and the long jump in 1936. Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

Ohio natives have already had a great Olympic Games in Paris, especially the gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles.

Yes, but: That's nothing new. The Buckeye State has produced dozens of gold medalists dating all the way back to 1904, when swimmer Charles Daniels of Dayton won three golds at the Games in St. Louis.

Zoom in: Other Ohioans with legendary Olympic performances are pictured below.

Jerry Page and Tim Rabon take swings at each other in a boxing ring. — Jerry Page (left), a Columbus native, won a boxing gold medal at the 1984 Games and is in the city's Hall of Fame. Photo: Ken Regan /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Four American members of the gold medal winning 400-meter relay team pose during the 1960 games. — Lucinda Williams Adams (second from right) won gold in the 400-meter relay in 1960, then had a long career as a teacher and administrator in Dayton. She now tells young people to "dream big." Photo: Bettmann Archive

Dave Wottle crosses the finish line in the 800-meter run in 1972 Olympic Games. — Dave Wottle won the 800-meter run in 1972 while studying at Bowling Green State University and always competed wearing a white ball cap. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

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Throwback Thursday: Ohio's Olympic greats

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