Jesse Owens’ Olympic gold medal sells for record $1.4 million

An Olympic gold medal won by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games has sold for a record $1.4 million, SCP Auctions of Laguna Niguel reported Sunday.

An anonymous person won the online bidding with an offer of $1,466,574, which is the highest price paid for a piece of Olympic memorabilia.

The bidding, which was approaching $500,000 at noon Friday, concluded Sunday. The gold medal does not distinguish for which event it was awarded.

SPC Auction says the medal was given by Owens to his friend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a dancer and movie star, as a token of appreciation for helping the track star enter the entertainment business.

Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Games, with Adolf Hitler witnessing the competition. Owens won the 100- and 200-meter sprints, the long jump and anchored the 400-meter relay team.

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