In 1968, the American athlete Bob Beamon, made a jump that many thought would never be bettered.



"As I struck that lightboard, I went up over six feet... and then I'd landed at this distance that was described as a freak."



In a single leap at the Mexico City Olympics, he improved the world record by more than half a metre. His new world record for long jump was 8.90m.



Sporting Witness speaks to Bob Beamon and to Lynn Davies, a Welsh long-jumper who saw the feat.



This programme was first broadcast in July 2012.



Picture: Bob Beamon's long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Credit: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images

In 1968, the American athlete Bob Beamon, made a jump that many thought would never be bettered. "As I struck that lightboard, I went up over six feet... and then I'd landed at this distance that was described as a freak." In a single leap at the Mexico City Olympics, he improved the world record by more than half a metre. His new world record for long jump was 8.90m. Sporting Witness speaks to Bob Beamon and to Lynn Davies, a Welsh long-jumper who saw the feat. This programme was first broadcast in July 2012. Picture: Bob Beamon's long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Credit: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Getty Images

Bob Beamon and the 'Leap of the Century'

<p>Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded.</p><p>Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.</p>

Sports

History

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive and testimony. Sporting Witness is for those fascinated by sporting history. We take you to the events that have shaped the sports world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes, you become a fan in the stands as we take you back in time to examine memorable victories and agonising defeats from all over the world. You’ll hear from people who have achieved sporting immortality, or those who were there as incredible sporting moments unfolded. Recent episodes explore the forgotten football Women’s World Cup, the plasterer who fought a boxing legend, international football’s biggest ever beating and the man who swam the Amazon river. We look at the lives of some of the most famous F1 drivers, tennis players and athletes as well as people who’ve had ground-breaking impact in their chosen sporting field, including: the most decorated Paralympian, the woman who was the number 1 squash player in the world for nine years, and the first figure skater to wear a hijab. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the tennis player who escaped the Nazis, how a man finally beat a horse in a race, and how the FIFA computer game was created.

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Bob Beamon and the 'Leap of the Century'

Bob Beamon and the 'Leap of the Century'

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