Farthest long jump at the Olympic Games (male)

The farthest long jump at the Olympic Games was achieved by Robert “Bob” Beamon (USA, b. 29 August 1946), who launched himself 8.90 m (29 ft 2.5 in) at the Mexico City Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico on 18 October 1968. This record and subsequent gold medal was the pièce de résistance of a fantastic season for Beamon, who had won 22 out of 23 competitions. He became the first and only man to set the long jump world record at an Olympiad, smashing the existing record by 55 cm (21.75 in). Since 1968 he has only been bettered by fellow American long-jumper Mike Powell, who leaped 8.95 m (29 ft 4.36 in) at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics.