Olympic moments: Bob Beamon's world record long jump – in pictures

When the young long-jumper Bob Beamon met the four-times Olympic champion Jessie Owens at the NCAA Track & Field championships in March 1968, he was only a matter of months from shattering the world record Photograph: Art Shay/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

The 22-year-old almost failed to qualify for the Olympic long jump final after fouling two of his jumps, but he scraped through to the main event in Mexico Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The following day Beamon made no such mistakes. In his first jump he hit the board precisely … Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

… and leapt skyward in his inimitable style Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

As he plunged towards the sand, few people, even Beamon himself, recognised the quality of his effort Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

His heels pierced the surface of the pit a whopping 29 feet and 2.5 inches from the board – the jump was almost 22 inches longer than any in history Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

When the measurement was read out in centimetres, Beamon did not comprehend his feat. But when he was informed of his status as a world record holder he sank to his knees and was comforted by team-mates and rivals in one of the most enduring Olympic images Photograph: John Dominis/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

Beamon (left) had benefited from two critical factors: firstly there was a 2mps tail wind and secondly the track in Mexico City was at high altitude, which decreased the effect of wind resistance. Beamon's rivals' hopes were scuppered as storms swept the stadium soon after his first jump Photograph: Popperfoto

The American won the gold medal and his record stood for almost 23 years until it was finally bettered by five centimetres by his compatriot Mike Powell in 1991 Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images