Influential Black Athletes throughout

BY KADIE GURLEY Arts & Life Editor

1936

1884

Moses Fleetwood Walker debuted in the league with the Toledo Blue Stockings in a 5-1 loss against the Louisville Eclipse. Even though Walker’s team lost in his first game, breaking the color barrier was a win for generations to come.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. Despite the Olympics being overruled by Adolf Hitler, Owens won the 100m in 10.30 seconds, the 200m in 20.70 seconds, and then the long jump, with an impressive leap of 8.06 meters.

1947

Jackie Robinson became the first Black to play Major League Baseball in the modern era for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1897-1928

American boxer Jack Johnson was the first African American to become heavyweight champion. Fighting professionally from 1897 to 1928, one of his biggest victories was knocking out former champion James J. Jeffries, who had been induced to come out of retirement as a “Great White Hope.” Johnson had 114 matches, winning 80, 45 of them via knockouts.

1960

Wilma Rudolph won three gold als and broke at least three world records. Rudolph became the first American wom an to win three gold medals in track field at the same Olympic game. Her formance also earned her the title of fastest woman in the world.” medrecords. womand per“the