Bob Beamon facts for kids
Beamon in 1992
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Robert Beamon | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 29, 1946 South Jamaica, Queens, New York City |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 154 lb (70 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Long jump | |||||||||||||||||||
| College team | The University of Texas at El Paso | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Robert Beamon (born August 29, 1946) is a famous American former track and field athlete. He is best known for his amazing long jump world record at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.
He jumped an incredible 8.90 m (29 ft 2.26870079 in) (about 29 feet, 2.5 inches). This jump broke the old record by a huge 55 cm (21+3⁄4 in) (about 21.5 inches)! His world record lasted for almost 23 years. It was finally broken in 1991 by Mike Powell. Bob Beamon's jump is still the Olympic record. It is also the second-longest jump in history that was not helped by strong wind.
Contents
Early Life and College
Robert Beamon was born in South Jamaica, Queens, New York. His mother died when he was very young. So, his grandmother, Bessie, raised him.
When Beamon was in Jamaica High School, a famous track coach named Larry Ellis noticed his talent. Beamon became part of the All-American track and field team. He started college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Later, he moved to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). There, he received a scholarship for track and field.
In 1965, Beamon set a national high school record in the triple jump. He also placed second in the long jump. In 1967, he won a major indoor title and a silver medal at the Pan American Games for the long jump.
After a protest, Beamon and other Black athletes were removed from the UTEP track team. This happened after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. Even though he lost his scholarship, Beamon went back to UTEP to finish his studies after the Olympics. Fellow Olympian Ralph Boston became his unofficial coach.
The 1968 Summer Olympics
Bob Beamon went to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Everyone expected him to win the gold medal. He had won 22 out of 23 competitions that year. He almost didn't make it to the final! He stepped over the line on his first two tries in the qualifying round. With only one chance left, Beamon carefully re-measured his run. He made a good jump that got him into the final.
In the final, he competed against other great long jumpers. These included Ralph Boston (who won gold in 1960) and Lynn Davies (who won gold in 1964).
On October 18, Beamon made history. On his very first jump, he set a new world record for the long jump. He jumped an amazing 8.90 m (29 ft 2.26870079 in)! This was 55 cm (21+3⁄4 in) farther than the old record. When the announcer called out the distance, Beamon didn't understand. He wasn't used to metric measurements. His teammate and coach, Ralph Boston, told him he had broken the world record by almost two feet. Beamon was so shocked and happy that his legs gave out, and he fell to his knees!
The defending Olympic champion, Lynn Davies, told Beamon, "You have destroyed this event." Because of his incredible feat, a new word was created: Beamonesque. This word is used to describe something spectacular or amazing.
Before Beamon's jump, the world record had been broken 13 times since 1901. Each time, the record usually increased by only a few inches. Beamon's jump was a massive leap forward. For many years, people thought his record could never be beaten. It took 12 years for another person to jump even 28 feet. Beamon's world record stood for 23 years. It was finally broken in 1991 by Mike Powell, who jumped 8.95 m (29 ft 4.23720473 in). But Beamon's jump is still the Olympic record. Even today, it is the second-longest wind-legal jump ever.
Later Life and Honors
After the Mexico City Olympics, Beamon was drafted by the Phoenix Suns basketball team. However, he never played in an NBA game. In 1972, he earned a degree in sociology from Adelphi University.
In 1977, Beamon became a track coach at Alliant International University in San Diego. He has also worked to encourage young people in sports. He has collaborated with people like former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Beamon is also a graphic artist. His artwork has been shown by the Art of the Olympians (AOTO). He was also the former chief executive of the Art of the Olympians Museum. In 2024, Beamon even played percussion on a hip-hop jazz recording!
Today, he is a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International.
Awards and Recognition
Bob Beamon has received many honors for his incredible achievements.
- He is in the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- When the United States Olympic Hall of Fame started in 1983, Beamon was one of the very first athletes to be included.
- There is even a street named Bob Beamon Street in El Paso, Texas.
- In 2015, he received an Outstanding Performance award at the ANOC Gala Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Bob Beamon para niños
