Through the years there has been many great Olympic sprinters, Olympic sprinting is one of the most exciting events in the Olympics, because it is so explosive and fast! I'm going to touch on some Olympic sprinters, dating from the 1930's through the 1990's. I will be focused on Male and woman sprinters through Olympic history.

1. 1936 - Jesse Owens, four time gold winner in Berlin.

Nazi Germany's claims of Aryan racial superiority were quashed by the performances of several athletes, including Jesse Owens, who was African-American. First, Owens tied an Olympic record by scorching the 100 meters in 10.3 seconds. After winning the long jump gold - and setting another Olympic record - Owens set an Olympic mark of 21.1 in his first 200-meter heat, then broke his record again with a time of 20.7 in the final race. Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe were then added to the U.S. 4 x 100 relay team, who took the place of Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller (the only Jews on the U.S. track team and the only team members who didn't compete in Berlin). Owens, Metcalfe, Foy Draper and Frank Wykoff won the race in a world record time of 39.8. I don't know if I would have wanted to be one of Hitlers officials after that Olympics.

2. In 1948 Blankers-Koen takes four medals at 30!
Fanny Blankers-Koen was 30, old for a sprinter in any era. Regardless, that's how old she was when the Olympics began. But that didn't prevent the Netherlands native from winning four gold medals that year. Beginning with the 100 meters, which she won in 11.9 seconds. After winning the 80-meter hurdles in an Olympic record time of 11.2, Blankers-Koen had an apparent anxiety attack and almost dropped out, prior to the 200-meter race. Her husband and coach, Jan Blankers, calmed her down and Blankers-Koen went on to win the event in 24.4 seconds racing on a muddy track. She completed her gold medal sweep in the 4 x 100 relay. Running the anchor leg, she took the baton in fourth place, burning through the field and edging out Australia's Joyce King by .1 second. Netherlands winning time was 47.5. It was an amazing Olympic comeback!

3. 1984 - Carl Lewis matches Jesse Owens in Olympic perfection.
American Carl Lewis won four times in the 1984 Olympics, duplicating Jesse Owens' performance in the 1936 Olympics. Lewis' attempt to match Owens almost ended in the 100 meters, as American Sam Graddy and Canadian Ben Johnson got away from the blocks faster. Lewis was in second place with 20

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