60 CLASSIC MOMENTS - THE TOP 5

 5  The human kangaroo jumps out of the pit

British triple jump star Jonathan Edwards sets two world record marks

WHEN Jonathan Edwards took triple jumping into a new stratosphere in 1995, the impact he created was so incredible that the fact he was actually the defending bronze medallist at the time was almost forgotten.

The Gateshead Flyer had superb speed on the runway; between 10 and 20 metres, he was good enough to match any of the world’s best sprinters and with that came the ability to master the technique of the hop, skip and jump.

By Monday, August 7, 1995, he already held the world record but what happened on that afternoon in Gothenburg, Sweden, has become part of athletics folklore. Over a decade on and no man has come close to eclipsing the distances that Edwards achieved.

He had signalled the intentions of his amazing few months at the European Cup in Lille, France, at the end of June. He achieved the longest wind-assisted jump in history with a clearance of 18.43m.

Just over three weeks later, in Salamanca, Spain, he became the world record-holder when he leapt 17.98m.

But in Gothenburg, he took the event to a new level.

 4  Beamon’s staggering giant leap for mankind

American obliterates world long jump record at altitude in Mexico City

BOB BEAMON of the USA, had qualified for the 1968 Olympics with the belief he was a very special talent who could win gold in Mexico City.

Yet, for all his undoubted ability, he could be frustratingly inconsistent, regularly encountering problems with his run up so nobody quite knew which Beamon would turn up to compete at the Olympic Games. We did not have to wait long to find out. It was October 18 and the competition wrote its way into history.

Along with Beamon on the USA team, there was Ralph Boston, who held the world record of 8.35m, jointly with Igor Ter-Ovanesyan, of Russia, who was in the field along with Britain’s Lynn Davies, the defending champion.

Boston knew all about his teammate, telling the rest of the field: “Don’t’ get Bob mad, he’s likely to jump clear of the pit.” While Davies, the pride of Wales, said: “It only needs Beamon to hit the board once, and we can all go home.

 3  Score draw to Coe and Ovett in Moscow

Honours even to British middle-distance legends in Olympic showdown

IN 1978, a rivalry in British sport began that to this day has not been matched. It was the start of the era of Sebastian Coe against Steve Ovett and it would split a nation.

Never before and not since – and probably never ever again – have two middle-distance runners captured the attention of the public in not only one country but across the world. It would last six years and those who have followed in their footsteps remain with such a hard act to follow.

By the time the pair reached the Moscow Olympics in 1980, they were both aware of the intense competition they would face. Before the 800m, Coe, the world recordholder, was the favourite for the title, but Ovett was just as hungry for victory. What happened, few could have predicted.

In the 800m final, Coe drifted towards the back of the field, which was an unusual position for the man who often went straight to the front of the pack, and Ovett was boxed in by the other athletes. ...

 2  Superman demolishes the world 200m record

American great shatters world 200m mark with an incredible 19.32 time

THE USA trials for the 1996 Olympic Games took place on the same Atlanta track where the main event would be staged a few weeks later. Two American athletes were poised to become the stars of the main show: Carl Lewis, who would be competing at his last Olympics, and Michael Johnson, the ultimate force in the 200m and 400m. Few expected the trials would provide the drama they did.

Since 1979, Pietro Mennea, of Italy, had held the world record for the 200m. His time of 19.72 had become the standard bearer and though Johnson had edged near it, breaking it remained an impossibility. At the trials, that all changed as he ran a sensational 19.66.

As Mennea’s mark had stood the test of time, it was obvious to assume that this 19.66 could become the lead time for even more generations. How wrong we could be.

 1  The Bannister Mile

RICHARD LEWIS describes the No.1 classic moment in the 60-year history of Athletics Weekly – Roger Bannister’s immortal 3:59.4, which itself celebrated its 50th anniversary last year

THIS age of the £120,000-aweek professional sportsman makes the achievements of Sir Roger Bannister even more remarkable.

If Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, the mile world record-holder at 3:43.13, attempted a new challenge on his time, he would spend the day relaxing at his hotel and then have a police escort to the stadium. And if he was to succeed on the track, he would go home with a five-figure cheque.

At 11am, on Thursday May 6, 1954, medical student Bannister, 25, went to work at St Mary’s Hospital, in Paddington, London, and at lunchtime, travelled alone by train to Oxford.

By sunset that day, he was one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet.

For years, athletes had dreamed of breaking four minutes for a mile, a barrier that had seemed like the impossible challenge. Swede Gunder Hagg’s world record of 4:01.4 had stood for nine years.

Although Bannister had edged close, there looked little likelihood of him achieving history when the rain and wind swirled around the Iffley Road track in the university city. His first taste of running had come as a youngster when he was trespassing on a construction site near his home and his friend saw the builder coming.

He thought it was easier to run than talk his way out of trouble.

 

Full story in issue 60-01, 7th December 2005.
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