Bob Beamon
Robert " Bob" Beamon ( born August 29, 1946 in Queens / New York ) is a former American track and field athlete who was successful in the second half of the 1960s. The Olympic champion of 1968 held for 23 years the world record in the long jump and is after more than forty years, is still the holder of the Olympic cup record in the long jump.
Earlier career
Beamon began his sporting career as a triple jumper. At the Jamaica High School in New York, he jumped in 1965 nationwide school record. As a student of the University of Texas at El Paso, he ran in addition the long jump and won the NCAA indoor title in the triple and long jump. In 1968 he went from 22 of 23 competitions the winner and also won the knockouts for the Olympic Games.
Olympic gold in Mexico City 1968
Also famous for his world record jump made him the sensational length of 8.90 m, which on October 18, 1968, he managed the long jump competition of the Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City in the first attempt. This is a "stepping into the 21st century " acclaimed record meant an improvement of previously held by Ralph Boston Igor Ter - and Owanesjan world record by 55 centimeters, an increase that was on this scale has never been done before - before that it had lasted 30 years, to increase the world record by 22 centimeters ( 8.13 m by Jesse Owens on May 25, 1935 Ralph Boston 8,35 m on May 29, 1965). Several factors came Beamon at his jump benefit: on the one favored the thin air of Mexico City ( 2,240 m above sea level. ) Sprinters and jumpers; also coming Tartan lining one of the speed had been laid in the stadium for the first time at the Olympics benefit. Ahead of the Games was therefore expected with many world records in sprint and jumping events. On the other hand blew at Beamon's start tailwind in the highest yet permitted thickness of 2 m / s, and he hit the take-off board perfectly. Its competitors, including the two previous world record holder, found in front of the same conditions, but fell far short of its performance. The runners up, Klaus Beer ( DDR), took silver with 71 cm less ( 8.19 m). Ralph Boston was third with 8.16 m.
The world record was broken only in 1991 at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Mike Powell and improved to 8.95 m.
After the Olympic victory
After the Olympic victory Bob Beamon appeared only sporadically in appearance. On his world record performance, he could never build. The attempt at a comeback in 1972 failed. In 1973 he was for a short time professional athletes.
After ending his playing career, the trained Schneider operated as a social worker.
In 1983 he was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Achievements
Power development
Others
After Bob Beamon a Munich club is named.