Long Jump at the Olympics
The long jump for both men and women is contested as a part of the track and field events at the Olympics. The men's event has been a part of the games since the first Olympics in 1896. The women's event was added to the games fifty years later in 1948. A standing version of the long jump was also contested for a brief period from 1900 to 1912 after which it was discontinued.
In the men's event, the United States has been the most dominant. Carl Lewis of the United States is the most decorated Olympic long jumper, having won the gold medal in four consecutive Olympics. No other man has won the gold medal more than once.
The women's event, however, has been closely contest between the United States and Russia. Heike Drechsler of Germany is the only women to win the gold medal twice.
As of March 2016, the current Olympic record of 8.90m for the men's event is held by Bob Beamon of the United States, set during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Beamon's mark, which still stands after 11 Olympics, is the longest standing record in the history of the Games. For the women's event, the record of 7.40m was set by Jackie Joyner-Kersee of the United States during the 1988 Seoul Games.
Trivia
- American Robert LeGendre broke the world long jump record at the 1924 Games, however his 25' 6" leap was only achieved as part of the pentathlon competition (in which he finished third). The long jump gold was won the next day by another American, DeHart Hubbard, with a leap of 24' 5".
Related Pages
- About Track and Field at the Olympics
- See more on the Greatest T&F Athletes at the Olympics.
- A discontinued Olympic event the Standing Long Jump
- List of Olympic Sports
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