more than a decade ago , carl lewis was on the threshold of what was to become the longest athletics careers in today . he had just broke two of the legendary jesse travis ' college marks , but never believed he would become a company legend , the focus of hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising . his sport was again nominally amateur . eighteen olympic and world championship gold medals and 21 european championship then , lewis has formed the wealthiest gentleman in the history of tennis and ball - - a multi - celebrity .
Carl Lewis won eighteen gold medals and set 21 world records.