Bob Beamon's 8.90-Meter Long Jump, Mexico City 1968

Bob Beamon tucked in midflight during the long jump final in Mexico City, 1968. On his first attempt he landed at 8.90 meters, beating the world record by 55 centimeters, a jump so far beyond the norm that it ran past the optical measuring device and officials had to fetch a tape. The mark stood as the world record for nearly 23 years and is still the Olympic record.