"Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics" tells the remarkable story of the athlete

July, 1, 2024

Courtesy: History Channel

"Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics," airing on The History Channel, is a harrowing documentary about James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens, the highly acclaimed African American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in the 100-meter dash, long jump, 200-meter dash, and 4×100-meter dash.

Executive produced by NBA superstar LeBron James and his agent, Maverick Carter, with Cinemation Studios and GroupM Motion Entertainment, the documentary is directed by two-time Emmy nominee Andre Gaines and narrated by actor Don Cheadle. It premiered on the History Channel on Wednesday, June 19, in honor of "Juneteenth" (the official federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States). Owens achieved international fame at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin during the height of Hitler's white supremacist agenda.

Per The History Channel's official synopsis, the documentary explores the dramatic tale of Owen's athletic dedication, perseverance, and triumph over Hitler's Aryan supremacy agenda and his resilience against racism both abroad and at home in the U.S. The documentary also features archival Olympic footage and interviews from Owens, smartly executed animation, and first-hand interviews from family members, journalists, historians, and reputable athletes, including 9x Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis and Owen's daughters Marlene and Beverly Owens.

The two-hour documentary gives an intimate look at Jesse Owens as his performance transcended sports and highlights his life and legacy with his historical and honored achievements in the new documentary.

Be sure to watch "Triumph: Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics," airing on The History Channel.

Watch the official trailer below: