On 18 October 1968, at the high altitude of Mexico City, the American long jumper Bob Beamon leapt 8.90 metres (29 feet 2.5 inches) on his first attempt in the Olympic final, beating the world record of 8.35 metres by 55 centimetres. It was so far that it was beyond the range of the optical measuring device, and officials had to use a steel tape. Beamon collapsed to his knees in shock. The record stood for almost 23 years, until Mike Powell jumped 8.95 metres in Tokyo in 1991, and is still the Olympic record. 'Beamonesque' came to mean an extraordinary feat.
Before and after
- 6 September 1968Founding of Eswatini
- 9 September 1968Birth of Lila Downs
- 17 September 1968Birth of Anastacia
- 11 October 1968Launch of Apollo 7
- 18 October 1968Bob Beamon's long jump of 8.90 metres
- 5 November 19681968 United States presidential election
- 20 December 1968Death of John Steinbeck
- 21 December 1968Launch of Apollo 8
- 24 December 1968Apollo 8 orbits the Moon and photographs Earthrise
More in Society, economy & sport
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The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.