'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In a glittering ceremony hosted in Washington DC last night by the Association of National Olympic Committees, long jump great Bob Beamon was bestowed with a special Olympic award.
The accolade is even more significant since it comes days after the 47th anniversary of his world record at the Mexico City Games.
While we are on topic its worth remembering that 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.
Around 22 years later Mike Powell finally eclipsed the world record in 1991, but Beamon’s jump still stands as the Olympic record.
It was thus apt that the legend was the most coveted awardee from the evening at the DAR Constitution Hall. Among the presenters were Pole Vault legend Sergey Bubka and Olympic champions Katie Ledecky and Ryan Lochte.
Apart from the aforementioned, other awards were presented for best male and female athletes from various continental games.
The list of winners is as follows:
2014 Asian Games
Male: Femi Seun Ogunode, Qatar, track and field
Female: Yao Jinnan, China, gymnastics
2015 African Games
Male: Franck Elemba, Republic of Congo, track and field
Female: Marie-Josee Ta Lou, Ivory Coast, track and field
2015 Pan American Games
Male: Thiago Pereira, Brazil, swimming
Female: Kim Rhode, United States, shooting
2015 European Games
Male: Togrul Asgarov, Azerbaijan, wrestling
Female: Katie Taylor, Ireland, boxing
2015 Pacific Games
Male: Ryan Pini, Papua New Guinea, swimming
Female: Jennifer Chieng, Federated States of Micronesia, boxing
Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Francesco Ricci Bitti, Italy, former head of International Tennis Federation
Contribution to the Olympic Movement
Thomas Bach, Germany, president of International Olympic Committee
