--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say that it was degrading for an…" description: "\"People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can't e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jesse-owens-11808_advertising_people-say-that-it-was-degrading-for-an_1186112.jpg" --- # People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion… ![“People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals. There was no television, no big advertising, no endorsements then. Not for a black man, anyway.” quote by Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jesse-owens-11808_advertising_people-say-that-it-was-degrading-for-an_1186112.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jesse-owens-11808_advertising_people-say-that-it-was-degrading-for-an_1186112.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/jesse-owens-11808_advertising_people-say-that-it-was-degrading-for-an_1186112.jpg) > “People say that it was degrading for an Olympic champion to run against a horse, but what was I supposed to do? I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals. There was no television, no big advertising, no endorsements then. Not for a black man, anyway.” [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racial barriers limited opportunities, yet he highlights the absurdity of competing against a horse and the lack of endorsement for Black athletes. **In simple terms:** Black athletes faced unfair limits. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal sports opportunities. Themes racism sports inequality Mood reflective determined Type social historical When to use this quote - sponsorship negotiations - media advocacy - grassroots sports programs Key Concepts civil rights media representation economic disparity Questions to Reflect On - How can modern platforms support underrepresented athletes? - What policies ensure fair compensation? A Different Perspective Historical context differs from today’s media landscape. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Entertainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainers/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Olympic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Track and field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track-and-field/) ## Related quotes > [I had four gold medals, but you can't eat four gold medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-had-four-gold-medals-but-you-can-t-eat-four-gold-medals/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I won the Olympic gold medal in Rome, Italy. Olympic champion. The Russian standing right here, and the Pole right here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-won-the-olympic-gold-medal-in-rome-italy-olympic-champion-the/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I always loved running… It was something you could do by yourself and under your own power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-always-loved-running-it-was-something-you-could-do-by-yourself-and-2/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [The only victory that counts is the one over yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/the-only-victory-that-counts-is-the-one-over-yourself/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard. The thrill of competing carries with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/if-you-don-t-try-to-win-you-might-as-well-hold-the-olympics-in/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [What I can tell them is the way you become an Olympic champion is to start working now. I tell them why it's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafer-johnson/what-i-can-tell-them-is-the-way-you-become-an-olympic-champion-is-to/) [Rafer Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafer-johnson/) > [My only real claim to fame is that I was southern England show-jumping champion in 1966. The day after my father died, 'Horse &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/my-only-real-claim-to-fame-is-that-i-was-southern-england-show/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Who am I just to give up on track? This is something I've dreamed about since I was 9 years old, being an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/who-am-i-just-to-give-up-on-track-this-is-something-i-ve-dreamed/) [Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/) > [I am European Games champion now as well as Olympic champion, European champion, and world champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-taylor/i-am-european-games-champion-now-as-well-as-olympic-champion-european/) [Katie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-taylor/) > [I led the world the whole year until the trials. I was in Birmingham, U.K. Broke the meet record, had the meet won already,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/i-led-the-world-the-whole-year-until-the-trials-i-was-in-birmingham-u/) [Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/) > [It's important to know that at the end of the day it's not the medals you remember. What you remember is the process --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silken-laumann/it-s-important-to-know-that-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-not-the-medals/) Silken Laumann > [We went out there as a team and believed we could win. I am an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lewis-francis/we-went-out-there-as-a-team-and-believed-we-could-win-i-am-an-olympic/) Mark Lewis-Francis > [1988 Olympic Champion Brian Boitano was famous for doing a Lutz with one arm over his head. And I wanted to build on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/1988-olympic-champion-brian-boitano-was-famous-for-doing-a-lutz-with/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [It is everything I thought it would be; being the Olympic champion, it definitely is an amazing feeling. And I give all the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/it-is-everything-i-thought-it-would-be-being-the-olympic-champion-it/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) ## More by Jesse Owens > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [When I came back, after all those stories about Hitler and his snub, I came back to my native country, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-came-back-after-all-those-stories-about-hitler-and-his-snub-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Joe Louis and I were the first modern national sports figures who were black... But neither of us could do national advertising because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/joe-louis-and-i-were-the-first-modern-national-sports-figures-who/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/a-lifetime-of-training-for-just-ten-seconds/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [The secret is, first, get a thoroughbred horse because they are the most nervous animals on earth. Then get the biggest gun you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/the-secret-is-first-get-a-thoroughbred-horse-because-they-are-the/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [It all goes so fast, and character makes the difference when it's close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/it-all-goes-so-fast-and-character-makes-the-difference-when-it-s-close/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard. The thrill of competing carries with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/if-you-don-t-try-to-win-you-might-as-well-hold-the-olympics-in/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [“In America anyone can still become someone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/in-america-anyone-can-still-become-someone/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [To a sprinter, the hundred-yard dash is over in three seconds, not nine or ten. The first 'second' is when you come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/to-a-sprinter-the-hundred-yard-dash-is-over-in-three-seconds-not-nine/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [It dawned on me with blinding brightness. I realized: I had jumped into another rare kind of stratosphere - one that only a handful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/it-dawned-on-me-with-blinding-brightness-i-realized-i-had-jumped-into/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-always-loved-running-it-was-something-you-could-do-by-yourself-and/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [We used to have a lot of fun. We never had any problems. We always ate. The fact that we didn't have steak? Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/we-used-to-have-a-lot-of-fun-we-never-had-any-problems-we-always-ate/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [She (Minnie Ruth Solomon) was unusual because even though I knew her family was as poor as ours, nothing she said or did seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/she-minnie-ruth-solomon-was-unusual-because-even-though-i-knew-her/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [There is something that can happen to every athlete and every human being; the instinct to slack off, to give in to pain, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/there-is-something-that-can-happen-to-every-athlete-and-every-human/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) [Explore all 57 Jesse Owens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) ## More Advertising quotes > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/) [Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [We have the capital, the resources, and the technology that we need to build a mobile advertising platform across the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/we-have-the-capital-the-resources-and-the-technology-that-we-need-to/) [Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/) > [“Never run advertising until the major publicity possibilities have been exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/never-run-advertising-until-the-major-publicity-possibilities-have/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) > [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [I like Valentine's Day. The trouble is the florists and the candy-makers and the card people are all advertising so much, you don't dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-like-valentine-s-day-the-trouble-is-the-florists-and-the-candy/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I happened to be spotted by a modeling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-happened-to-be-spotted-by-a-modeling-agent-who-offered-me-a-part/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. 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