Bob Beamon and the 'Leap of the Century'
How the American long-jumper shattered the world record at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
In 1968, the American athlete Bob Beamon, made a jump that many thought would never be bettered.
"As I struck that lightboard, I went up over six feet... and then I'd landed at this distance that was described as a freak."
In a single leap at the Mexico City Olympics, he improved the world record by more than half a metre. His new world record for long jump was 8.90m.
Sporting Witness speaks to Bob Beamon and to Lynn Davies, a Welsh long-jumper who saw the feat.
This programme was first broadcast in July 2012.
Picture: Bob Beamon's long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Credit: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Sat 14 Jul 2012 09:50GMT主播大秀 World Service Online
- Mon 16 Jul 2012 01:50GMT主播大秀 World Service Online
Featured in...
![]()
Olympic history—Sporting Witness
Listen to and download our programmes
Olympic history
The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history
Sporting Witness Films
Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement
Podcast
-
![]()
Sporting Witness
Personal stories of amazing moments from sporting history told by people who were there
