Bob Beamon of the USA takes off for a place in sporting history as he leaps 8.90 metres at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico.
In Imperial measure terms it looked even more impressive since he missed out 28 feet, taking the record to 29 ft 2 ins. Yet Beamon never again managed a jump of 27 feet.
It was twelve years before anyone else reached 28 feet (8.53 metres) and the record stood until 1991 when Mike Powell of the USA leapt 8.95 metres in Tokyo to win the world title. His jump was at sea level and wind assistance of 0.3mps.

Tony Duffy /Allsport

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