Cuba's Javier Sotomayor became the first person to high jump 8 feet, setting a world record Saturday night at the Caribbean Championships.
"It is a fantastic feat because I am the first man in jumping the eight feet, and that is fabulous," said Sotomayor, 21.Sotomayor set the previous mark of 7-111/2 in 1988 in Salamanca, Spain.
At that time, the Cuban's jump broke the previous outdoor world record of 7-11 set by Patrick Sjoeberg of Sweden in Stockholm on June 6, 1987.
Sotomayor also holds the indoor mark at 7-111/2.
He made the historic jump in his second try.
In his first attempt, Sotomayor tried at 8-0 feet but he touched the beam with his left leg.
Sotomayor did not have a shot at a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics because Cuba boycotted the Games.
The 6-foot-4 Cuban said he was not disappointed about not being able to compete in the Seoul Olympics and is looking forward to 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.
Reaching the 8-foot barrier is a significant mark in track and field.
In the men's high jump, the record metrically is now 2.44, exactly 8 feet, but for Europeans, the more significant height would be 2.45 (8-01/2), since they recognize increases of five centimeters.
"Every time you go up five centimeters, it's important," said Olympian Jimmy Howard, the former American record-holder. "When someone clears 2.50 (8-21/2), it will be phenomenal.
In the pole vault, the 20-foot barrier is in reach but has not been cracked. The record-holder is Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union at 19-101/2.