Illustration for the question “Who was the first athlete to break the 8-meter mark in the long jump?”

Sport

Who was the first athlete to break the 8-meter mark in the long jump?

Correct answer Jesse Owens

Fact

Did you know?

On May 25, 1935, during a university competition in Ann Arbor, Jesse Owens achieved an extraordinary series of world records in about forty-five minutes. He long jumped 8.13 meters, becoming the first athlete to officially break the eight-meter barrier. This mark remained the world record for twenty-five years, until Ralph Boston's jump in 1960. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens won four gold medals and won the long jump competition with 8.06 meters. This day is often considered one of the greatest individual performances in the history of athletics.

Content last updated · October 12, 2026

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