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World Record Long Jump at 1968 Mexico City Games Bob Beamon didn’t just set a new world record with his long jump at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics; he obliterated it. Beamon became the first human to break the 28- and 29-foot barriers, and he did it on just one jump. During his first attempt in the final round, Beamon took off from the back of the runway, using his great speed to build momentum. Beamon leaped high into the air and soared, landing close to the back of the sand pit with his backside lightly scraping the sand.

Beamon’s distance didn’t automatically appear, and meet officials measured the jump manually.

“When they brought out the measuring tape, I thought

I may have jumped 27 feet 10 inches,” Beamon said years

later during an interview. That

alone would have crushed the world record of 27 feet, 4 ¾ inches.

After more than 10 minutes, his jump of

8.90 meters appeared on the scoreboard at Estadio Olímpico

The Summer Olympics: Record Breakers

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