A strategically-positioned photographer captured the moment forever, as 22 year-old Beamon unleashed an Olympic long jump of 29 feet, 2 1/2 inches in the 1968 Mexico City Games.
Beamon obliterated the world record by an unimaginable 21 3/4 inches.
"When I heard the jump was over 29 feet, I remember saying to myself, 'This is just a dream. I'm going to wake up pretty soon in a cold sweat,'" Beamon said. "I was actually touching myself to see if it was real."
Beamon's Olympic record still stands today as the oldest on the books, bested only by Mike Powell's equally incredible 29 4 1/2 jump at the 1991 World Championships.
Olympic Legends
