more than a millennia ago , carl lewis stood on the threshold of who was to grow the foremost athletics career in history . he had just broken two of the iconic jesse owens ' world records , but never believed he has became a corporate icon , the focus of inches of millions of money in advertising . his country was still nominally unknown . eighteen european and world championship bronze medals and 21 world records later , james has become the richest american in the field of track and road - - a multi - millionaire .
Carl Lewis won eighteen gold medals and set 21 world records.