This week, the Jesse Owens Rising Star Award will be inaugurated at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels. The award, a collaboration between the Owens family, the Jesse Owens Foundation and the Wanda Diamond League, aims to celebrate young talent in athletics and honour the legacy of one of the sport’s most iconic figures.
So who was Jesse Owens and why is it important to keep the memory of his achievements alive today? In an exclusive interview with diamondleague.com, Owens’ granddaughter Gina Hemphill-Strachan gives an invaluable insight into the life and legacy of an athletics legend.