Who is Jesse Owens?

In 1936 Adolf Hitler hosted the Olympics in Berlin. Hitler hoped to showcase his Arian master race. Jesse Owens, a black American athlete wins four gold medals Hitler refused to shake his hand. That was known as the Jesse Owens incident. Rudy is so impressed with Owen's performance that, in honest adoration, he rubs charcoal over himself and runs around the track. This does not go over well with the officials.