![Long jump, Olympics: Why do the best long jumpers in the world seem to be jumping shorter distances? Long jump, Olympics: Why do the best long jumpers in the world seem to be jumping shorter distances?](https://compote.slate.com/images/f5b0870b-b619-4a03-9f7f-ace7b2a93977.jpg)
Long jump, Olympics: Why do the best long jumpers in the world seem to be jumping shorter distances?
![USATF on Twitter: "Beamonesque. #OnThisDay at the 1968 Olympics, Bob Beamon shattered the long jump world record by 55cm/21.65in with a leap of 8.90m/29-2.50. It took 20 minutes to measure the jump USATF on Twitter: "Beamonesque. #OnThisDay at the 1968 Olympics, Bob Beamon shattered the long jump world record by 55cm/21.65in with a leap of 8.90m/29-2.50. It took 20 minutes to measure the jump](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eknl3V_X0AEtJpu.jpg:large)
USATF on Twitter: "Beamonesque. #OnThisDay at the 1968 Olympics, Bob Beamon shattered the long jump world record by 55cm/21.65in with a leap of 8.90m/29-2.50. It took 20 minutes to measure the jump
![Greatest long jump final ever: Carl Lewis and Mike Powell trade world records in 1991 | NBC Sports - YouTube Greatest long jump final ever: Carl Lewis and Mike Powell trade world records in 1991 | NBC Sports - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sLmoJyVnLm0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Greatest long jump final ever: Carl Lewis and Mike Powell trade world records in 1991 | NBC Sports - YouTube
![Photograph of Chūhei Nambu from Japan competing in the Long Jump during the 1932 Olympic games. He finished third in the Long jump that year, however he made a new world record Photograph of Chūhei Nambu from Japan competing in the Long Jump during the 1932 Olympic games. He finished third in the Long jump that year, however he made a new world record](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/MR76GJ/photograph-of-chhei-nambu-from-japan-competing-in-the-long-jump-during-the-1932-olympic-games-he-finished-third-in-the-long-jump-that-year-however-he-made-a-new-world-record-in-the-triple-jump-jumping-1572-meters-MR76GJ.jpg)
Photograph of Chūhei Nambu from Japan competing in the Long Jump during the 1932 Olympic games. He finished third in the Long jump that year, however he made a new world record
![Bob Beamon: Olympic long jumper on incredible world record jump in 1968 and why he protested | Olympics News | Sky Sports Bob Beamon: Olympic long jumper on incredible world record jump in 1968 and why he protested | Olympics News | Sky Sports](https://e0.365dm.com/21/07/2048x1152/skysports-bob-beamon-long-jump_5462156.jpg)