On 15 November 2002, Sri Chinmoy received the 'Jesse Owens Humanitarian Award' from the Jesse Owens Foundation, presented by the family of the legendary Olympic track and field gold medallist at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, IL, USA.
The award was presented by Michael Fisher, President of the Board of Directors, which included Jesse Owens’ three living daughters and other family members.
Sri Chinmoy (accepting the award): My highly esteemed Sister Marlene, highly esteemed Brother Stewart, members of the Jesse Owens family, and distinguished members of the Jesse Owens Foundation, I wish to offer you infinite gratitude from the inmost recesses of my heart for bestowing upon me this signal honour. Jesse Owens was, is and forever shall remain my life’s champion supreme and my heart’s hero supreme for his deathless jumps, his breathless speed and his ceaseless self-offering.
To Jesse Owens, the outer man of indomitable courage, I bow and bow. To Jesse Owens, the inner man of infinite compassion, I bow and bow and bow and bow.
I was a budding 100-metre champion in a spiritual community in Pondicherry, South India. My idol absolute was Jesse Owens. Generation after generation, his Olympian voice will reverberate in the hearts of aspiring athletes throughout the length and breadth of the world.
Jesse Owens is a unique inspiration-sun, beckoning us all to conquer impossibility and leap forward, dive inward and fly upward in the realms of greatness and goodness.
The Jesse Owens Humanitarian Award is a most significant gift in my life. I shall forever and forever treasure this supreme honour, specially because it has been presented to me by his beloved family members.
No hyperbole, Jesse Owens’ name is synonymous with the green Eternity’s Light, the blue Infinity’s Delight and the gold Immortality’s Pride.
—Sri Chinmoy, Only One Reality, Agni Press, New York, 2025
Jesse Owens Foundation
In 1964, heeding an inner call, Sri Chinmoy traveled to America to share his spiritual realizations with sincere seekers in the west. Since then, Sri Chinmoy has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the world and for the fulfillment of the unlimited potential of man. Sri Chinmoy's aspirations for a world-family have been expressed through a wide range of endeavors…
Sri Chinmoy's dear friend President Mandela wrote, “My brother in peace, … the people of our country are both humbled and honored to have received inspiration from you during our struggle for democracy.”
In recognition of his lifetime of service, Sri Chinmoy has received many awards and recognitions including the Mother Teresa Award (Macedonia), the Pilgrim of Peace (Italy) and the Gandhi Peace Award. In one of his most moving prayers, Sri Chinmoy has written, “My Lord, God, give me the capacity to wipe every tear from every heart.”
In 1972, the great Jesse Owens and Sri Chinmoy, himself a champion sprinter in his youth, met for three hours in New York to share their philosophies. The legendary four-time Olympic gold medalist told Sri Chinmoy:
“I believe very much in what you are doing. I am an admirer of yours. I will preach your philosophy … You are inspiring the young people, motivating them to the bigger, better side of life.”
— Jesse Owens
Sri Chinmoy – Jesse Owens, 1972
Jesse Owens Song
Jesse Owens, Jesse Owens, Jesse Owens!
O deathless jump, O breathless speed,
Eternally, athlete’s world you will feed.
Dictator Hitler’s Aryan supremacy
Surrendered to your Himalayan ecstasy.
Champion of champions, Hero of heroes!
In your service-heart America glows.
In Berlin, four gold medals winner;
Eternity’s diamond-heart owner.
— Sri Chinmoy, Run and Become, Become and Run Songbook, Agni Press, New York, 1982
Related
Jesse Owens and Sri Chinmoy - article by Animesh
Eulogy for Jesse Owens — Sri Chinmoy, The Oneness of the Eastern Heart and the Western Mind, Part 3, Agni Press, New York, 2004