Athletics career
Powell won the long jump silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.[1]
At the 1991 World Championships in Athletics (Tokyo), on August 30, 1991, Powell broke Bob Beamon's almost 23-year-old long jump world record by 5 cm (2 inches), leaping 8.95 m (29 ft 4+1⁄4 in).[3] The world record still stands, making it the longest-standing long jump world record since records have been kept. His feat earned him the James E. Sullivan Award and BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year Award in 1991.
He also holds the longest non-legal jump of 8.99 m (29 ft 5+3⁄4 in) (wind-aided +4.4) set at high altitude in Sestriere, Italy in 1992.[4]
Powell again won the long jump silver medal at 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[1] In addition to his famous 1991 victory, he won the long jump again at the 1993 World Championships in Athletics,[5] and came third at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics.
Powell competed in the 1992–93 Foot Locker Slam Fest and successfully dunked from the free throw line.
After the coming fifth in the long jump at the 1996 Olympics, Powell retired. He returned in 2001 with a goal of competing in the 2004 Olympics, but did not make the American team.
