This week in Olympic history: 14-20 October - Bob Beamon smashes long jump world record
Olympics.com explores the week in Olympic sports history, highlighting Olympians' birthdays and notable sporting events from 14 to 20 October.
Welcome to This Week in Olympic Sports History, where Olympics.com remembers the most significant sports events of the past. This week, we'll cover 14-20 October.
On this day – 18 October 1968: Beamon breaks World and Olympic record
‘Beamonesque’ describes an athletic achievement that is outstanding beyond belief, better than anything that has preceded it.
That is the impact that Bob Beamon, the Olympic long jump record holder who gives his name to the term, had on the sporting stage.
The American long jumper was the favourite at Mexico City 1968, but he almost did not reach the final on his Olympic debut, fouling twice in qualifying before making it third time lucky.
Beamon’s first jump in the final would be the one to go down into history.
With a run up that would have put the Queens native in contention in the 100m sprint, Beamon charged towards the board at full speed and launched himself perfectly horizontally into the air.
He jumped so far, officials had to revert to the old-fashioned measurement of a steel tape to check his distance. When the result was first announced, Beamon did not even realise, unfamiliar with the metric measurement.
When he found out, Beamon collapsed to the floor in complete shock.
His opening jump of 8.90m was a new world record, beating the existing one by an astonishing 55cm and tripling the previous record margin for the largest increase in the long jump world record.
It was Beamon’s one and only participation in an Olympic event, but he left his mark forever. He took gold in Mexico and a world record that would stand for 23 years. The American still holds the Olympic record over half a century later.
Quote of the Week | Bob Beamon, Olympic long jump champion and record holder
"Success is a history of ups and downs as you grow into perfecting your craft."
Notable Olympic birthdays: 14-20 October
- Jaime Yusept Espinal (Puerto Rico, Wrestling, Olympic silver medallist) born 14 October 1984
- Guo Jingjing (People's Republic of China, Diving, four-time Olympic champion) born 15 October 1981
- Sergio Santos (Brazil, Volleyball, two-time Olympic champion) born 15 October 1975
- Christopher Brown (Barbados, Athletics, four-time Olympic medallist) born 15 October 1978
- Sue Bird (USA, Basketball, five-time Olympic champion) born 16 October 1980
- Park Sang-young (Republic of Korea, Fencing, Olympic champion) born 16 October 1995
- Jarred Tallent (Australia, Athletics, four-time Olympic medallist) born 17 October 1984
- Lindsey Vonn (USA, Alpine Skiing, three-time Olympic medallist) born 18 October 1984
- Emma Coburn (USA. Athletics, Olympic bronze medallist) born 19 October 1990
- Ursula Happe-Krey (Germany, Swimming, Olympic champion) born 20 October 1926
Make sure to check back on Olympics.com next week for more sports and Olympic history.