Bob Beamon collects 'outstanding Olympic performance' award
WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 Thursday night by the Association of National Olympic Committees.
On Oct. 18, 1968, Beamon soared 29 feet, 2-1/2 inches (8.90 meters) on his first jump, shattering the world record by 21-3/4 inches (55 cms), 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 U.S. swimmers Katie Ledecky and Ryan Lochte.
Other awards were presented for best male and female athletes from various continental games.
The list of winners:
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2015 African Games:
Male: Franck Elemba, Republic of Congo, track and field
Female: Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Ivory Coast, track and field
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2015 Pan American Games:
Male: Thiago Pereira, Brazil, swimming
Female: Kim Rhode, United States, shooting
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2014 Asian Games
Male: Femi Seun Ogunode, Qatar, track and field
Female: Yao Jinnan, China, gymnastics
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2015 European Games
Male: Togrul Asgarov, Azerbaijan, wrestling
Female: Katie Taylor, Ireland, boxing
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2015 Pacific Games
Male: Ryan Pini, Papua New Guinea, swimming
Female: Jennifer Chieng, Federated States of Micronesia, boxing
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Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Francesco Ricci Bitti, Italy, former head of International Tennis Federation
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Contribution to the Olympic Movement
Thomas Bach, Germany, president of International Olympic Committee