At the
1968 Summer OlympicsThe 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in
Mexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, 36
athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 12 for women. There were a total number of 1031 participating athletes from 93 countries.
Discussion
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At the
1968 Summer OlympicsThe 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in
Mexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, 36
athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 12 for women. There were a total number of 1031 participating athletes from 93 countries.
These games were notable for a number of Olympic firsts and numerous world records, attributable to the high altitude of Mexico City. These included:
- Dick Fosbury
Richard Douglas "Dick" Fosbury is one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field. He completely revolutionized the high jump event, inventing a unique "back-first" technique, now known as the Fosbury Flop, adopted by almost all high jumpers today. His method was to sprint...
introduced the Fosbury FlopThe Fosbury Flop is a style used in the athletics event of high jump. It was popularized and perfected by American athlete Dick Fosbury, whose gold medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics brought it to the world's attention...
to the High JumpThe high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
by jumping over backwards, whereas the prevailing methods involved jumping forwards or sideways.
- The first African Gold Medallists in the 1500m and 3000m Steeplechase, as well as many other medals in middle and long distance events. Particularly symbolic of Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
's new found dominance was the victory by KenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n athlete Kip Keino over American World Record Holder and hot favourite Jim RyunJames Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
in the 1500m final.
- Bob Beamon
Robert "Bob" Beamon is an American former track and field athlete, best known for his world record in the long jump at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, which remained the world record for almost 23 years until it was broken in 1991 by Mike Powell. This is the second longest holding of this record, as...
broke Ralph BostonRalph Harold Boston is an American athlete. He was an all around athletic star, but he is best remembered for his successes in the long jump during the 1960s....
's 1965 World RecordA world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the Men's Long JumpThe long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
by 55 cm (22 in). This record was not broken until 1991.
- The World Record was broken in the Men's Triple Jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
five times by three athletes, including the final jump of the event.
- Black American athletes wore black gloves and bowed their heads on the medal podium after their medals in the 200m, sparking huge controversy.
- Jim Hines
James "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
became the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrierThe 10-second barrier is a term used in track and field athletics which refers to the physical and psychological barrier of completing the men's 100 metres sprint in under ten seconds...
in the 100 metresThe 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
.
Men's events
100 metres
|
|
9.95
(WR) |
|
10.04 |
|
10.07 |
200 metres
|
|
19.83
(WR) |
|
20.06
(NR) |
|
20.10 |
400 metres
|
|
43.86
(WR) |
|
43.97 |
|
44.41 |
800 metres
|
|
1:44.40
(WR) |
|
1:44.57 |
|
1:45.46 |
1500 metres
|
|
3:34.91
(OR) |
|
3:37.89 |
|
3:39.08 |
5000 metres
|
|
14:05.01 |
|
14:05.61 |
|
14:06.41 |
10,000 metres
|
|
29:27.40 |
|
29:27.75 |
|
29:34.20 |
110 metres hurdles
|
|
13.33
(WR) |
|
13.42 |
|
13.46 |
400 metres hurdles
|
|
48.12
(WR) |
|
49.02 |
|
49.03 |
3000 metres steeplechase
|
|
8:51.02 |
|
8:51.56 |
|
8:51.86 |
4×100 metres relay
|
Charles Greene
Mel Pender
Ronnie Ray SmithRonald "Ronnie" Ray Smith is a former American athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 4×100 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics...
Jim HinesJames "Jim" Ray Hines is a former American track and field athlete, who held the 100 m world record for 15 years. He was the first sprinter to officially break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.-Track career:...
|
38.24
(WR) |
Hermes RamírezHermes Ramírez is a former sprinter from Cuba. Together with Juan Morales, Pablo Montes, and Enrique Figuerola he won an Olympic silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Mexico City 1968...
Juan MoralesJuan Morales is a former Cuban athlete who competed mainly in 110 metres hurdles. Together with Hermes Ramírez, Pablo Montes, and Enrique Figuerola he won an Olympic silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Mexico City 1968...
Pablo MontesPablo Montes Casanova was a Cuban sprinter. His career highlight came in 1968 as he, together with Hermes Ramírez, Juan Morales, and Enrique Figuerola, won an Olympic silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay. He was also fourth in the 100 m final, just outside the medals...
Enrique FiguerolaEnrique Figuerola Camue is a former sprinter from Cuba.His major international success was his threefold participation in the Olympic Games. He made his first appearance at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, were he finished fourth in the 100 metres final...
|
38.40 |
Gérard FenouilGérard Fenouil is a former athlete from France who mainly competed in the 100 metres.He competed for a France in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, where he won the bronze medal in the 4 x 100 metre relay with his team mates Jocelyn Delecour, Claude Piquemal and Roger...
Jocelyn DelecourJocelyn Delecour was a French athlete, who won the bronze medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in the 4 x 100 metre relay...
Claude PiquemalClaude Piquemal was a French athlete who mainly competed in the 100 metres.He competed for a France in the 4 x 100 metre relay at the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Paul Genevay, Bernard Laidebeur and Jocelyn Delecour.Piquemal and...
Roger BambuckRoger Bambuck was a French athlete, who mainly competed in the 100 metres.He competed for France in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City in the 100 metres and in the 4 x 100 metre relay where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Gérard Fenouil, Jocelyn Delecour and Claude Piquemal...
|
38.43 |
4×400 metres relay
|
Vincent Matthews
Ron FreemanRonald J. Freeman II is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
Larry JamesGeorge Lawrence "Larry" James was an American track athlete.-Biography:James was born on November 6, 1947, in Mount Pleasant, New York, and took up track in seventh grade...
Lee EvansLee Edward Evans is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
|
2:56.16
(WR) |
Daniel RudishaDaniel Rudisha is a retired Kenyan athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Kenya in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the silver medal with his team mates Munyoro Nyamau, Naftali Bon and Charles Asati.Rudisha lives in Kilgoris...
Munyoro Nyamau
Naftali BonNaftali Bon was a Kenyan athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Kenya in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the silver medal with his team mates Daniel Rudisha, Munyoro Nyamau and Charles Asati.-References:...
Charles AsatiCharles Asati is a former Kenyan athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics.At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Charles Asati reached to the quarterfinal of 200 m and was a member of Kenyan 4x400 m relay team, which won the surprise silver medal, with a time of 2:59.6.At...
|
2:59.64 |
Helmar MüllerHelmer Müller is a West German former athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for West Germany in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Manfred Kinder, Gerhard Hennige and Martin Jellinghaus.He...
Manfred KinderManfred Kinder is a West German former athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres.He was born in Königsberg....
Gerhard HennigeGerhard Hennige is a former German track and field athlete and Olympic medal winner, among the world's best at the 400 meter hurdles from 1966 to 1971....
Martin JellinghausMartin Jellinghaus is a West German former athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres....
|
3:00.57 |
Marathon
|
|
2:20:27 |
|
2:23:31 |
|
2:23:45 |
20 kilometres walk
|
|
1:33:58 |
|
1:34:00 |
|
1:34:03 |
50 kilometres walk
|
|
4:20:14 |
|
4:30:17 |
|
4:31:55 |
Long jump
|
|
8.90 m
(WR) |
|
8.19 m |
|
8.16 m |
Triple jump
|
|
17.39 m
(WR) |
|
17.27 m |
|
17.22 m |
High jump
|
|
2.24 m
(OR) |
|
2.22 m |
|
2.20 m |
Pole vault
|
|
5.40 m
(OR) |
|
5.40 m |
|
5.40 m |
Shot put
|
|
20.54 m
(OR) |
|
20.12 m |
|
20.09 m |
Discus throw
|
|
64.78 m
(OR) |
|
63.08 m |
|
62.92 m |
Hammer throw
|
|
73.36 m
(OR) |
|
73.28 m |
|
69.78 m |
Javelin throw
|
|
90.10 m
(OR) |
|
88.58 m |
|
87.06 m |
Decathlon
|
|
8193
(OR) |
|
8111 |
|
8064 |
Women's events
100 metres
|
|
11.08
(WR) |
|
11.15 |
|
11.19 |
200 metres
|
|
22.58
(WR) |
|
22.74 |
|
22.88 |
400 metres
|
|
52.03 |
|
52.12 |
|
52.25 |
800 metres
|
|
2:00.92
(OR) |
|
2:02.58 |
|
2:02.63 |
80 metres hurdles
|
|
10.39
(OR) |
|
10.46 |
|
10.51 |
4×100 metres relay
|
Margaret BailesMargaret Johnson Bailes is an American athlete who competed in the 100 and 200 meters.-Early life:Margaret Johnson Bailes was born in the Bronx...
Barbara FerrellBarbara Ann Ferrell is a former American athlete, who competed mainly in the 100 metres....
Mildrette NetterMildrette Netter is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 meters.She competed for the United States in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico in the 4 x 100 meters where she won the gold medal with her teammates 100 meter silver medalist Barbara Ferrell, Margaret Bailes...
Wyomia TyusWyomia Tyus is an American athlete, and the first person to retain the Olympic title in the 100 m....
|
42.88
(WR) |
Violetta QuesadaVioletta Quesada is a retired sprinter from Cuba who helped win a silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics, the first Olympic medal ever achieved by Cuban women.-References:...
Miguelina CobiánMiguelina Cobián is a retired sprinter from Cuba who helped win a silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics, the first Olympic medal ever achieved by Cuban women.-References:...
Marlene ElejardeMarlene Elejalde Díaz was a retired sprinter from Cuba. At the 1968 Summer Olympics she helped win a silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay, the first Olympic medal ever won by Cuban women. At the 1972 Summer Olympics she won another relay medal, this time a bronze. She died in a car accident in...
Fulgencia RomayFulgencia Romay is a retired sprinter from Cuba. At the 1968 Summer Olympics she helped win a silver medal in 4 x 100 metres relay, the first Olympic medal ever won by Cuban women. At the 1972 Summer Olympics she won another relay medal, this time a bronze. She also won a silver medal in 200...
|
43.36 |
Galina BukharinaGalina Petrovna Bukharina is a Soviet athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres.Bukharina trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow. She competed for Soviet Union in the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico City, Mexico in the 4 x 100 metres where she won the bronze medal with her...
Lyudmila Samotyosova
Vera PopkovaVera Ivanovna Popkova was a Soviet track and field athlete who competed in the sprints. She had personal bests of 11.3 seconds for the 100 metres and 23.0 seconds for the 200 metres...
Lyudmila Zharkova |
43.41 |
Long jump
|
|
6.82 m
(WR) |
|
6.68 m |
|
6.66 m |
High jump
|
|
1.82 m |
|
1.80 m |
|
1.80 m |
Shot put
|
|
19.61 m
(WR) |
|
18.78 m |
|
18.19 m |
Discus throw
|
|
58.28 m
(OR) |
|
57.76 m |
|
54.90 m |
Javelin throw
|
|
60.36 m |
|
59.92 m |
|
58.04 m |
Pentathlon
|
|
5098 |
|
4966 |
|
4959 |
Medal table
| 1 |
|
15 |
6 |
7 |
28 |
| 2 |
|
3 |
2 |
8 |
13 |
| 3 |
|
3 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
| 4 |
|
2 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
| |
2 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
| 6 |
|
2 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
| 7 |
|
2 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
| 8 |
|
1 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
| 9 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
| 10 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| 11 |
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| 15 |
|
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| 16 |
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| 17 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| 22 |
|
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| 23 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
External links