BEAMON, BOB

born Aug. 29, 1946, Bronx, New York, N.Y., U.S. Bob Beamon (U.S.) as he breaks the world record in the long jump at 29 feet 2 1/4 American long jumper who set a world record of 29 feet 2 1/2 inches (8.90 m) at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. The new record surpassed the existing mark by an astounding 21 3/4 inches. Beamon began jumping at Jamaica High School (Long Island, N.Y.) and attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College (Greensboro), the University of Texas at El Paso, and Adelphi University (Long Island), where he also played basketball. In Mexico City, aided by the high altitude and a strong tailwind, Beamon became the first long jumper to surpass both 28 and 29 feet, an extraordinary accomplishment. His world record stood for 23 years, until Mike Powell of the United States surpassed it in 1991. After setting the record, Beamon competed irregularly and retired before the 1972 Olympics. In 1973 he turned professional; later he was a track coach, did youth work, and participated in various sports-related activities, including fund raising for the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1984.