1968 Mexico

Mexico City 1968

The high altitude of Mexico City, allied to the political and social upheavals of the time in Mexico itself, meant that the Summer Olympics of 1968 were the most controversial of modern times. But Alberto Isaac recorded so many events with a rare command of sound and image that his film received an Academy Award nomination for best documentary. Among the highlights are Bob Beamon's prodigious leap in the long jump, Debbie Meyer's triumphs in the swimming pool, and Dick Fosbury's revolutionary “flop” technique in the high jump. There is superb coverage of the water polo, as well as of the diving competitions.

Mexico 1968 | Olympic Games

Originals

1964Mexico

Mexico 1968 Official Film | The Olympics in Mexico

In 1968, Mexico City introduced a new modern vision of the host country through their innovative Olympic design program.

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Design Focus: Mexico 1968

One of the greatest moments in Olympic Games history sees Bob Beamon's era-defying leap win long jump gold at Mexico City 1968.

Bob BEAMON

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Beamon Soars To Long Jump Record in Mexico 1968

High jumper Dick Fosbury surprises the world and revolutionises the jump with his "Fosbury Flop" at the Olympic Games Mexico City 1968.

Athletics

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Fosbury Revolutionises High Jump in Mexico 1968

Mexico City 1968 - Overview Mosaic

Dick Fosbury's technique truly changed the sport at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Despite skepticism, Fosbury achieved a personal record of 2.24m to win the gold medal.

Richard Douglas FOSBURY

Highlights

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Dick Fosbury's technique - Men's High Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlights

John Stephen Akhwari competed in the marathon in 1968. He didn't win a medal. But, in defeat and pain, he came to represent something much more profound and enduring.

John-Stephen AKHWARI

John Stephen Akhwari crosses finish line at Olympic marathon in 1968

Men's Marathon - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

In Mexico 1968, Sawao Kato won three gold medals (floor exercises, individual and team combined exercises) and a bronze medal on the rings.

Sawao KATO

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Kato on the rings - Men's Artistic Gymnastics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

The final was dominated by America's Madeline Manning, who led from the front to win by some 10 meters, breaking the Olympic Record.

Madeline MANNING

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Manning takes gold - Women's 800m Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Al Oerter won the men's discus for the fourth time in a row, with perhaps his most remarkable performance.

Alfred OERTER

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Oerter's golden performance - Men's Discus Throw | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Debbie Meyer's Olympic record is astonishing. She competed only in Mexico 1968 and was only 16 years old. She retired from swimming when still a teenager.

Debbie MEYER

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Meyer's Record - Women's 400m Freestyle Swimming  | Mexico 1968 Replays

Mexico City 1968 Overview Replays

Artistic Gymnastics

Cycling Road

Cycling Track 

Hockey

Swimming

Czechia

France

Japan

Kenya

Pakistan

United States

USSR

Relive the best moments of Mexico's 1968 closing ceremony.

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Closing Ceremony | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Relive the best moments of the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games.

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Best of Games | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Coxed by 14-year-old Günther Tiersch, West Germany’s rowers scored their first Olympic men’s eights win at Mexico City 1968. Relive their thrilling victory in our video.

Günther TIERSCH

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Men's Eight Final - Rowing | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Sergeant Reuben Jones enjoyed his finest hour on 21 October 1968 in Mexico City, jumping a clear round on his mount to win team eventing gold for Great Britain.

Reuben Samuel JONES

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Great Britain wins team eventing gold - Equestrian | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Watch our exclusive archive footage of Roland Matthes in action as he claimed the first of his four individual Olympic titles, in the 100m at Mexico City1968.

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Men's 100m backstroke - Swimming  | Mexico 1968 Replays

Relive the thrilling battle for gold in the first-ever men’s Olympic 100m butterfly final at Mexico 1968.  American Mark Spitz was beaten to the touch by Doug Russell.

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Men's 100m butterfly final - Swimming | Mexico 1968 Replays

The triple jump competition was spectacular. The world record had stood for eight years but, at the conditions of Mexico City, it was broken not once but five times.

Viktor SANEEV

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Saneyev breaks World Record - Men's Triple Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlights

In Mexico, the world of high jumping changed forever when American Dick Fosbury revolutionized his sport by introducing a new style to the world – the Fosbury Flop.

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Fosbury's golden moment - Men's High Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Věra Čáslavská, the Czech gymnast, became a global star on the back of the 1968 Olympics.

Vera CASLAVSKA

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Čáslavská's best moments - Artistics Gymnastics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

The women's 100m was a particularly competitive event. Wyomia Tyus, Barbara Ferrell, and Margaret Bailes equaled the Olympic record with times of 11.2secs.

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Women's 100m - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Replays

Kenya's Naftali Temu came to Mexico intent on pursuing a punishing schedule of three events. It couldn't have been harder – he plumped for the 10,000m, 5,000m and marathon, despite the heat and altitude of Mexico City.

Nabiba Naftali TEMU

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Naftali Temu wins the men's 10000m - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

The outstanding cyclist of these Games was the Frenchman Pierre Trentin.

Pierre TRENTIN

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Men's Team Final - Cycling track | Mexico 1968 Replays

James Hines was competing in the American national championships when he clocked a hand-timed 9.9secs in winning the final.

James Ray HINES

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James Hines takes gold - Men's 100m Athletics | Mexico 1968 Replays

Jim Ryun had not been beaten over the distance for three years but was hindered by illness and by the altitude. Instead, Kip Keino emerged as a serious contender.

Kipchoge KEINO

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Men's 1500m - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Replays

The long jump in Mexico featured an outstanding field. All three medallists from the 1964 Games had returned. The favorite, though, was a newcomer, Bob Beamon.

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Bob Beamon's record jump - Long Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Rewatch Mikhail Voronin's performance on the horizontal bar at Mexico 1968 where he won the Olympic gold medal.

Mikhail VORONIN

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Olympic Games Mexico City 1968

Mexico City 1968Highlights & Replays

Dick Fosbury's technique - Men's High Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Men's Marathon - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Kato on the rings - Men's Artistic Gymnastics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Manning takes gold - Women's 800m Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Oerter's golden performance - Men's Discus Throw | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Meyer's Record - Women's 400m Freestyle Swimming | Mexico 1968 Replays

All Replays

Closing Ceremony | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Best of Games | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Men's Eight Final - Rowing | Mexico 1968 Highlights

Great Britain wins team eventing gold - Equestrian | Mexico ...

Men's 100m backstroke - Swimming | Mexico 1968 Replays

Men's 100m butterfly final - Swimming | Mexico 1968 Replays

Meyer's Record - Women's 400m Freestyle Swimming | Mexico 1...

Saneyev breaks World Record - Men's Triple Jump | Mexico 196...

Fosbury's golden moment - Men's High Jump | Mexico 1968 High...

Čáslavská's best moments - Artistics Gymnastics | Mexico 196...

Women's 100m - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Replays

Naftali Temu wins the men's 10000m - Athletics | Mexico 1968...

Men's Team Final - Cycling track | Mexico 1968 Replays

James Hines takes gold - Men's 100m Athletics | Mexico 1968 ...

Men's 1500m - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Replays

Bob Beamon's record jump - Long Jump | Mexico 1968 Highlight...

Voronin's golden performance - Artistic Gymnastics | Mexico ...

Men's Marathon - Athletics | Mexico 1968 Highlights