Won the long jump event in the 1968 summer Olympics with a leap of 29
feet 2½ inches, which bettered the previous world record by 21¾ inches.
The record stood until 1991.
Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, 1983 (charter
member).
Attended the University of Texas but was dropped from the track team when he refused to compete in a meet at Brigham Young University due to Mormon doctrine about blacks. He transferred to Adelphi University in New York where he graduated in 1972.
Received an offer to play for the Harlem Magicians basketball team but turned it down to concentrate on track & field.
Attended Jamaica High School in Queens, New York graduating in 1966.
In 1962 he entered the Junior Olympics where he set the record in the long jump of 24 feet, one inch.