Can we agree to start with Jesse Owens? If history is the study of people and moments, any list of greatest U.S. Summer Olympics heroes can find no bigger story.
This is not to diminish the achievements of Carl Lewis or Jackie Joyner-Kersee on the track; of Mark Spitz or Michael Phelps in the pool; or any other phenomenal success. In fact, we should glorify their incredible athlete feats.
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But any ranking of Olympic success must start with Owens.
Because of its size, its wealth of athletic men and women, its diversity of talent ranges and the strength of its development system, the United States is among the greatest nations in the quadrennial spectacle of human endeavor.