Jesse Owens International Trophy Explained
The Jesse Owens International Trophy is an annual sports award that is given out by the International Athletic Association (IAA), named after Olympic sprinter Jesse Owens. It has been awarded annually since 1981, with the exception of a ten-year break from 2004 to 2014.[1] In 2002 and 2003, it was briefly renamed "American-International Athlete Trophy" before it returned to its original name.[2]
The award was created and promoted by Herb Douglas, American long jumper and Olympic silver medalist in 1948. Douglas was inspired by Jesse Owens and founded the IAA. After the pause due to Douglas' old age, former Penn Quakers football player Wesley E. Smith became chairman of the International Athletic Association and rebooted the award.
There is a separate and unrelated annual track and field award called the Jesse Owens Award given out by USA Track & Field since 1981.
Criteria
The award is presented to "that amateur athlete who, in the opinion of an international blue-ribbon panel of sports experts, best personifies those qualities of that great Olympian after whom it is named. Those qualities are excellence in athletic accomplishment and performance, a high standard of sportsmanship, and a sincere commitment to cooperation among peoples of all nations". In 2016, the winner was selected by polling the (AIPS), an international organization of sports journalists.[3]
List of recipients
| Year | Winner | Nationality | Sport | |
|---|
| 1981 | | | | [4] |
| 1982 | | | | |
| 1983 | | | | |
| 1984 | | | | |
| 1985 | | | | [5] |
| 1986 | | | | |
| 1987 | | | | |
| 1988 | | | | |
| 1989 | | | | |
| 1990 | | | | [6] |
| 1991 | | | | |
| 1992 | | | | |
| 1993 | | | | |
| 1994 | | | | |
| 1995 | | | | |
| 1996 | | | | |
| 1997 | | | | [7] |
| 1998 | | | | [8] |
| 1999 | | | | [9] |
| 2000 | | | | [10] |
| 2001 | | | | [11] |
| 2002 | | | Swimming | [12] |
| 2003 | | | | [13] |
| Not awarded from 2004 to 2013 |
| 2014 | | | | [14] |
| 2017 | | | Tennis | | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Usain Bolt, Messi, Phelps, LeBron among finalists for Prestigious Jesse Owens International Award . TrackAlerts . 17 June 2024 . 28 January 2014.
- Web site: Jesse Owens' Olympic Gold Medal . Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine . 17 June 2024.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160916060044/http://jesseowensgala.com/ . 2016-09-16. Jesse Owens Gala . 17 June 2024.
- Web site: Moses' reputation further enhanced . Asbury Park Press . 17 June 2024 . 39 . 22 January 1984.
- Web site: Griffith Joyner dashes off with Jesse Owens Award . Courier-Post . 17 June 2024 . Camden, New Jersey . 29 . 22 February 1989.
- Web site: Silent success: Douglas' Olympics prowess is Pittsburgh treasure . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 17 June 2024 . 14 . 20 July 1996.
- Web site: Johnson, Nike strike deal: Six years, possible $12M . The Atlanta Constitution . 17 June 2024 . 122 . 4 February 1997.
- Web site: Gebrselassie awarded the Jesse Owens International Trophy . . 17 June 2024 . 29 January 1998.
- Web site: NORTH CAROLINA ATHLETE JONES AWARDED JESSE OWENS TROPHY . Greensboro News & Record . 17 June 2024 . 19 January 1999.
- Web site: Lance Armstrong wins Jesse Owens award . . 17 June 2024 . 18 January 2000.
- Web site: PLUS: AWARDS; Jones Receives Jesse Owens Award . . 17 June 2024 . 25 January 2001.
- Web site: Swimmer Ian Thorpe Honored . Midland Daily News . 17 June 2024 . 26 February 2002.
- Web site: International Amateur Athletic Association to Honor Lance Armstrong as Winner Of 23rd Annual American-International Athlete Trophy. . Gale Academic Onefile . 17 June 2024 . 16 January 2003.
- Web site: Usain Bolt Earns Jesse Owens International Athlete Trophy . . 17 June 2024.
