August 11, 1984 – World-class sprinter Carl Lewis earned the title of the fastest man on the planet, He repeated what Jesse Owens had accomplished almost 50 years earlier in 1936, by winning a fourth Olympic gold medal as part of the US 4 x 100m relay team.
That relay team set a world record of 37.83 seconds. Joining Owens in the accomplishment were Emmit King, Calvin Smith, and Willie Gault (who would later play for the Chicago Bears.)
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

How Would You Rank the Best NFL Teams of the 1970s?
Many would argue the NFL during the 1970s was the best era in league

Sports History On This Day: May 23
May 23, 1922 – Boxer Gene Tunney suffered his only professional defeat in a 15-round

When George Halas Went To War; What Happened to the Chicago Bears?
George Halas, the founder and also coach of the Chicago Bears for many decades,

The Celtic’s Final Stand: Story of the 1969 NBA Finals
The decade of the 1960s in the NBA belonged to the Boston Celtics. In

Sports History On This Day: May 22
May 22, 1884 – Pitcher Hugh Daily struck out 13 hitters. That may not sound

Sports History On This Day: May 21
May 21, 1930 – This story is pretty incredible! New Yankees legend Babe Ruth hit three Home

Sports History On This Day: May 20
May 20, 1897 – At just the second-ever playing of the British Open Men’s Golf, an

Sports History On This Day: May 19
May 19, 1973 – Riding perhaps the most famous racehorse of all time, Secretariat, jockey Ron