The Olympic long jump record gold medal won by American Bob Beamon at the 1968 Games was sold this Thursday in New York for $441,000.
“It’s time for me to pass it on,” said the 77-year-old former athlete, before the auction by Christie’s.
The historic jump at the 1968 Mexico Olympics reached 8.90 m, a world record until the Tokyo World Championships in 1991. In a booming sports memorabilia market, Christie's experts had 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 “understands the importance of the athletic feat ".
The auction house declined to reveal the name of the buyer.
Bob Beamon said he remembered this “extraordinary day” of October 18, 1968. “That day, everything was perfect for me.
The wind was perfect.
The weather was perfect when I jumped,” he recalled.
“It rained right after.”
“But to my surprise, it wasn’t just a leap, it was an extraordinary moment in history.”