The young Carl Lewis, then with the age of 23, arrived in Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games with an ambitious goal: repeat Jesse Owens' feat in Berlin Olympics. As well as the legendary Jesse, Lewis was from Alabama and was trying to win four gold medals: 100m, 200m, 4x100m and the long jump. And he did it! Carl Lewis' name was already famous before Los Angeles, since, on the previous year, he had won 3 gold medals in the first Athletics World Championships.

In Seoul 1998 Olympics, it seemed impossible for Lewis beat his rival Ben Johnson in the 100 meters. As expected, Ben Johnson crossed the finish line first followed by Carl Lewis. But, for the world's astonishment, Ben Johnson was disqualified for doping and the gold medal went to Carl Lewis. Also in Seoul, Carl Lewis won the gold in the long jump and silver in the 200m.

In 1991 Athletics World Championships, Carl Lewis broke the 100m world record with the time of 9.86. In the following year, in Barcelona Olympic Games, he won the gold medal in the long jump and 4x100m.  

Lewis arrived in Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games trying to win the long jump, but this time he wasn't the favorite. However, the 35 years old athletes' experience was stronger and he won his 9th Olympic gold medal.  

Because of all this achievements, the IAAF elected, in 1999, Carl Lewis as the athlete of the twenty century.

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