more than a decade past , carl lewis stood on the threshold of this was to become the highest athletes career in history . he had just broken all of the legendary jesse owens ' college champions , but never imagined he should grow a corporate icon , the result of countless of millions of millions in advertising . his sport was still largely academic . eighteen olympic and world championship success awards and 21 universe records afterwards , lewis has become the richest figure in the era of track and field - - a multi - millionaire .
Carl Lewis won eighteen gold medals and set 21 world records.