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Years ago a young black child was growing up in Cleveland, in a home which he later described as “ materially poor but spiritually rich.”

One day a famous athlete, Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to

the students. At the time Paddock was considered “ the fastest human being alive”. He told the children, "Listen! What do you want to be? You name it and then believe that God will help you be it." That little boy decided that he too wanted to be the fastest human being on earth.

The boy went to a track coach and told him of his new dream. His coach told him, "it’s great to have a dream, but to retain your dream you must build a ladder too. Here is the ladder to your dreams. The first-rung determination! The second rung is dedication! The third rung is disciplined! And the fourth rung is attitude!"

The results of all that motivation is that he went on to win four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won the 100-meter-and broke the Olympic world records for the 200 m. His broad jump record lasted

for 24 years. His name? Jesse Owens.

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