more than a minute before , carl lewis remained on the threshold of anything was to become the highest athletics achievement in history . he had just broken six of the renowned jesse owens ' college records , but never considered he did become a company icon , the target of hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising . his activity was still relatively olympic . eighteen olympic and country record winners medals and 21 world records previously , she has become the richest man in the history of running and field - - a multi - superstar .
Carl Lewis won eighteen gold medals and set 21 world records.