Watch Jesse Owens Embarrass the Nazis at the 1936 Olympic Games in the Trailer for 'Race'

Selma’s Stephen James stars as the legendary gold medal winner.

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A few years before World War II, the 1936 Olympic Games were Adolf Hitler’s big plan to show off how great Nazi Germany was. Only they didn’t count on African-American Jesse Owens coming over and basically just destroying all their supposedly superior Aryan athletes, winning four gold medals in the process. It’s a remarkable story of bravely, with Owens overcoming both racism back home in America and calls for him to boycott the games, and having the guts to stand up and embarrass Hitler.

Obviously the story sounds perfect for a film, and it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for a big Hollywood version to be made — but here’s the first trailer for Race. Owens is played by Selma’s Stephen James, with Jason Sudeikis and Game of Thrones’ Carice Van Houten also in the cast. 

Race is UK cinemas June 3.

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