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Bob BeamonAmerican athlete, successful track and field athlete.
Date of Birth: 29.08.1946
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Bob Beamon
Early Life and Rise to SuccessBob Beamon, an American athlete and successful long jumper, was born on August 29, 1946, in Queens, New York. As a talented young boy growing up in a poor and crime-ridden neighborhood, Beamon's sporting abilities were noticed by renowned track and field coach Larry Ellis. He changed his priorities, leaving behind drug dealing and abandoning his dream of becoming a drug dealer. Long jump became Beamon's sole avenue to escape the ghetto and achieve something in life. He was later accepted into the All-American track and field team and in 1965, he earned a second-place finish in the long jump in the United States, earning a sports scholarship to attend the University of Texas at El Paso.
Record-Breaking Olympic Achievement
In 1967, Beamon won a silver medal in the long jump at the Pan American Games. However, he was temporarily expelled from the university for refusing to compete against representatives from Brigham Young University, who were accused of practicing racial discrimination. As a result, Beamon lost his scholarship and his coach. He was unofficially coached by Ralph Boston, the Olympic champion in the long jump of 1960. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Beamon appeared as the favorite, with 22 wins out of 23 competitions that year, a personal best of 8.33m, and the best world performance of 8.38m, which, however, did not make it into the record books due to excessive wind speed. In fact, Beamon was close to missing the Olympic final altogether due to fouls in his first two qualifying attempts. Following Boston's advice, Beamon took a safe jump in his third attempt, although he fell short of the bar. Nonetheless, his jump of 8.18m was enough to secure him a spot in the finals. On October 18, 1968, Beamon set a new world record in the long jump on his first attempt. He jumped 8.90m, surpassing the existing record by an incredible 55cm. When the announcer revealed the distance Beamon had achieved, the athlete, unfamiliar with the metric system, did not comprehend his accomplishment. After Ralph Boston explained that he had broken the current record by almost two feet, Beamon's legs gave way. Overwhelmed by surprise and excitement, Beamon experienced a brief cataplectic episode, dropping to his knees and covering his face with his hands as tears streamed down. Perhaps the most touching moment of the entire Olympics was when Beamon's competitors helped him to his feet. Olympic champion of 1964, Lynn Davies, told Beamon, "You have destroyed today's competition," and the term "Beamonesque" became synonymous with incredible feats in sports.
After the Olympics
Following his record-breaking jump, Robert landed on the far edge of the pit, beyond the reach of the optical measurement device. The measurement limit was 8.70m, so the judges had to use a regular tape measure. The process took almost half an hour, and Beamon initially thought the delay was due to a malfunctioning measuring device. Several environmental factors worked in Beamon's favor during his extraordinary jump. Mexico City's altitude of 2240m provided a less dense atmosphere than at sea level. Beamon also benefited from a tailwind of 2m/s, the maximum allowable limit in competition. According to calculations, the altitude and wind could have increased Beamon's jump by 31cm. In addition to setting a new world record in the long jump, other achievements were also broken at the 1968 Olympics. For example, Lee Evans set a new world record in the 400m dash.
Later Life and Legacy
After his triumphant victory at the Olympics, Beamon never jumped farther than 8.22m. His record stood until 1991 when American long jumper Mike Powell surpassed him with an 8.95m jump at the World Championships in Tokyo, surpassing Beamon by 5cm. Robert was later drafted by the Phoenix Suns basketball team. In 1972, he graduated from Adelphi University with a degree in psychology.
Beamon suffered a severe hamstring injury while competing on an artificial surface. He never fully recovered from the injury and switched his takeoff foot, but it did not prevent him from achieving excellent results.
Several factors influenced Beamon's decision to retire from athletics, including health problems and constant pressure from the public, who expected him to achieve another "otherworldly" performance in every competition.
Beamon held various positions as a supporter of youth sports development, including collaboration with former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bob was involved in several sports programs at multiple universities and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the "Art Of The Olympians" museum in Florida.
In the documentary film "Behind The 8.9" by Joshua Ortiz, released during the 2016 Summer Olympics, previously undisclosed information about Bob Beamon will be revealed to the public.
Beamon was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. When the United States Olympic Hall of Fame began selecting outstanding athletes in 1983, Beamon was among the first chosen.
In 1999, together with his wife Milana, Robert wrote an autobiography titled "The Man Who Could Fly: The Bob Beamon Story."
