Bob Beamon's Olympic gold medal sold for $441,000

“It’s time for me to pass it on

,” the 77-year-old former athlete told AFP before the auction by Christie’s.

The historic jump at the 1968 Mexico Olympics reached 8.9 meters, a world record until the Tokyo World Championships in 1991. In a booming sports memorabilia market, Christie's experts valued this medal at between 400,000 and $600,000.

“The auction was an excellent way to display the medal, but also to preserve its memory

,” said Bob Beamon, saying he hoped it would go to a buyer who

.

In the final of the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Bob Beamon improved the long jump world record, co-held by Ralph Boston and Igor Ter-Ovanessian, by 55 centimeters with a jump of 8.90 meters.

ASP / Panoramic

The auction house declined to reveal the name of the buyer.

Bob Beamon said he remembered this

of October 18, 1968.

,” he recalled.