The Jesse Owens Award is an annual track and field award that is the highest accolade given out by USA Track & Field (USATF). As the country's highest award for the sport, it bears Jesse Owens's name in recognition of his significant career, which included four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. First awarded in 1981 to hurdler Edwin Moses, it was created to recognize the season's top American performer in track and field competitions. In 1996, the award was divided into two categories, with both a male and female winner. The 1996 winners, Michael Johnson and Gail Devers, each won two gold medals at that year's Olympics in Atlanta. Up until 2008, the award was voted on by members of the United States athletics media only, but in 2009 fans were able to vote via the USATF website, with their opinions contributing 10% of the overall result.
Joan Benoit received the award in 1984 after winning the first Olympic marathon for women.
Allyson Felix received the award in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2015.
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games.
Owens at the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he won four Olympic gold medals
Owens displaying excellent form during his victory in the long jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin
2015 photograph of the U.S. track team house at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Village
2015 photograph of Jesse Owens' room in the 1936 Olympic Village in Berlin
