# Bob Beamon

> American track and field athlete

**Wikidata**: [Q52604](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52604)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Beamon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bob-beamon

## Summary
Bob Beamon is an American track and field athlete best known for setting a world record long jump of 8.90 meters at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, a performance that stood for 23 years and remains one of the most remarkable achievements in Olympic history.

## Biography
- Born: August 29, 1946
- Nationality: United States
- Education: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of Texas at El Paso, Adelphi University
- Known for: Record-breaking long jump at 1968 Olympics
- Field(s): Track and field athletics

## Contributions
Bob Beamon's most significant contribution was his world record long jump of 8.90 meters (29 feet 2.5 inches) at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. This performance shattered the existing record by 55 centimeters and stood as the world record for 23 years. His achievement is widely considered one of the greatest performances in Olympic history. Beamon also participated in basketball during his college years, showcasing his athletic versatility. After his athletic career, he became a motivational speaker and worked as a sports commentator, sharing his experiences and insights with others.

## FAQs
**What is Bob Beamon most famous for?**
Bob Beamon is most famous for his record-breaking long jump of 8.90 meters at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, a performance that remained the world record for 23 years.

**Where did Bob Beamon attend college?**
Bob Beamon attended multiple institutions including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of Texas at El Paso, and Adelphi University during his educational journey.

**Did Bob Beamon participate in other sports besides track and field?**
Yes, Beamon participated in basketball during his college years, demonstrating his versatility as an athlete across different sports.

**How long did Bob Beamon's Olympic record last?**
Beamon's long jump record of 8.90 meters stood for 23 years before being broken by Mike Powell at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.

**What has Bob Beamon done after his athletic career?**
After competing professionally, Beamon transitioned to motivational speaking and sports commentary, sharing his Olympic experiences and inspiring others through his story of achievement.

## Why They Matter
Bob Beamon's 1968 Olympic long jump stands as one of the most iconic moments in sports history, not only for the physical achievement but for how it transcended sport to become a symbol of human potential. His record-breaking jump was accomplished at an altitude of 2,240 meters in Mexico City, which likely contributed to the extraordinary distance. Beamon's performance inspired generations of athletes and demonstrated the impact of technological advances in track surfaces and training methods. He has served as an ambassador for track and field athletics, helping to popularize the sport through public appearances and commentary. His achievement also highlighted the importance of psychological factors in sports, as Beamon later admitted he was so overwhelmed by the Olympic atmosphere that he didn't realize he had broken the world record until after the jump.

## Notable For
- Setting a world long jump record of 8.90 meters at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
- Breaking the previous world record by 55 centimeters, a margin that remains unprecedented
- His Olympic record stood for 23 years (1968-1991)
- Competed as a multi-sport athlete, participating in both track and field and basketball
- Height: 191 cm (6 ft 3 in), Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)
- Has been active as a motivational speaker and sports commentator after his athletic career
- Enshrined in various sports halls of fame
- His 1968 jump was captured on film and became one of the most replayed moments in Olympic history

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Bob Beamon was born on August 29, 1946, in the United States. During his educational journey, he attended multiple institutions, including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of Texas at El Paso, and Adelphi University. These institutions provided him with both academic and athletic development opportunities. His athletic versatility was evident during his college years when he participated in both track and field and basketball programs, demonstrating his natural athletic ability across multiple disciplines.

### Athletic Career
Beamon emerged as a prominent figure in track and field athletics, specializing in the long jump event. His physical attributes, including his height of 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) and weight of 70 kg (154 lbs), contributed to his success as a long jumper. His career reached its pinnacle at the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City at an altitude of 2,240 meters.

### The 1968 Olympic Performance
At the 1968 Olympics, Beamon achieved what many consider the greatest single performance in Olympic history. In the long jump final, he leaped an astonishing distance of 8.90 meters (29 feet 2.5 inches), shattering the existing world record by 55 centimeters. The jump was so extraordinary that Beamon himself was not immediately aware of its significance, having been overwhelmed by the Olympic atmosphere and not watching the official measurement. His coach, Ralph Boston, informed him of the unprecedented distance only after the jump was confirmed.

### Record Breaking and Legacy
Beamon's 8.90-meter jump remained the world record for an unprecedented 23 years until it was finally broken by Mike Powell at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo with a jump of 8.95 meters. During those 23 years, Beamon's record stood as one of the most enduring achievements in track and field history. His performance was particularly remarkable considering that the previous world record had been broken 13 times between 1901 and 1967, often by only small margins. Beamon's 55-centimeter improvement remains the largest single leap improvement in the event's history.

### After Athletic Competition
Following his competitive athletic career, Bob Beamon transitioned into motivational speaking and sports commentary. His unique Olympic experience and story of achievement made him an inspirational figure for aspiring athletes and others facing challenges. Beamon used his platform to share insights about performance psychology, goal setting, and overcoming obstacles, applying lessons from his athletic career to broader life contexts.

### Media Presence and Recognition
Beamon's Olympic moment was captured on film and has since become one of the most replayed moments in Olympic history. His image and signature (as seen in the property P109: Unterschrift Bob Beamon (Autogramm) US-amerikanischer Leichtathlet.png) have been featured in various media outlets and sports documentaries. He has been enshrined in multiple sports halls of fame, recognizing his contributions to track and field athletics.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Bob Beamon maintains a presence on social media, including Twitter with the handle @bobbeamon68. His various digital identifiers include IMDb ID (7531726a2ad548418d309e70ba8bfad0), MusicBrainz ID (80427), and Internet Broadway Database ID (112401). These identifiers connect his athletic legacy to broader cultural and digital contexts, allowing audiences to explore his impact across different platforms.

### Personal and Professional Connections
Beamon has maintained connections to educational institutions throughout his career. His affiliation with universities like Adelphi University has allowed him to engage with younger generations and contribute to athletic and academic programs. These connections highlight his continued commitment to education and athletic development beyond his competitive years.

## References

1. Catalog of the German National Library
2. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
3. filmportal.de
4. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
5. World Athletics database
6. Basketball Reference
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013