Mike Powell broke Bob Beamon's 23-year-old record in the long jump today, leaping 29 feet, 41/2 inches in the World Track and Field Championships.
The 27-year-old former UCLA star eclipsed Beamon's record of 29-21/2, set in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, on his fifth attempt. He fouled on his sixth attempt."It's just unbelievable," Powell said as he walked off the field. "It's the greatest thrill in my life. I knew I could make it. Something went wrong on every jump, but then all of a sudden everything went smooth.
"I predicted this morning that I would go 8.95 meters (29-41/2). I called it. I dedicate this to my mom and my grandma."
Earlier, Carl Lewis had a wind-aided mark of 29-23/4 on his fourth jump. Lewis was helped by a 2.9-meters-per-second wind, stronger than the 2-meter limit. The wind for Powell's record-breaking jump was 0.3 meters.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," Powell said. "I knew it was far and I knew it would be close to Carl. When I looked at it I thought it might be a world record. I'm living a dream. The runway is so fast, honestly I thought King Carl would beat me on the sixth jump."
"When I hit 8.54 meters (28-01/4) I was just striding. I was prepared to jump 9 meters (29-61/2). I had been confident I could jump this far."
Lewis took the early lead with a mark of 28-53/4 on his first jump. Powell's best through his first four jumps was 28-01/4, but he had a foul which looked much longer than that.
Lewis, who entered the competition with a 65-meet winning streak in the event dating back to 1981, fouled on his second attempt and then moved up to 28-113/4, 29-23/4 and 29-11/4. After Powell's record-breaking jump, Lewis had a mark of 29-0 on his last attempt.
Powell watched Lewis' final attempt with his hand on his heart and hugged a Japanese judge holding a flag near the pit area when Lewis' mark was announced. He then celebrated by hugging his fellow competitors, before embracing his coach, Randy Huntington.
Lewis, in tears, was comforted by his coach, Tom Tellez.
Larry Myricks finished third in 27-71/2 to give the United States the first sweep of the medals in the meet.