Beamon gets award

WASHINGTON: Long jump great Bob Beamon has received a special Olympic award, almost half a century after he set a world record with a stunning jump at the 1968 Mexico City Games.

Beamon was presented the “outstanding performance’” prize on Thursday night by the Association of National Olympic Committees. On October 18, 1968, Beamon soared 29 feet on his first jump, shattering the world record by 21-3/4 inches, in one of the iconic moments in Olympic history.

The world record stood for 22 years before Mike Powell broke it in 1991, but Beamon’s jump still stands as the Olympic record. Beamon was among the ANOC award winners at a ceremony at the DAR Constitution Hall. Among the presenters were US swimmers Katie Ledecky and Ryan Lochte.

Other awards were presented for the best male and female athletes from various continental games.