<P> The long jump world record has been held by just four individuals for the majority of its existence . The first record ratified by the IAAF in 1901 , by Peter O'Connor stood just short of 20 years . After it was broken in 1921 , the record changed hands six times until Jesse Owens set the record at the 1935 Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor , Michigan of 8.13 m ( 26 ft 8 in ) that was not broken for 25 years and 2 months , until 1960 by Ralph Boston . Boston improved upon it and exchanged records with Igor Ter - Ovanesyan seven times over the next seven years . At the 1968 Summer Olympics Bob Beamon jumped 8.90 m ( 29 ft 2 ⁄ in ) at an altitude of 7,349 feet ( 2,240 m ) , a jump not exceeded for 23 years , and which remains the second longest legal jump of all time . On 30 August 1991 Mike Powell of the United States set the current men 's world record at the World Championships in Tokyo . It was in a well - known show down against Carl Lewis , who also beat Beamon 's record that day but with an aiding wind ( thus not legal for record purposes ) . Powell 's record 8.95 m ( 29 ft 4 ⁄ in ) has now stood for more than 27 years . </P>
<P> The long jump world record has been held by just four individuals for the majority of its existence . The first record ratified by the IAAF in 1901 , by Peter O'Connor stood just short of 20 years . After it was broken in 1921 , the record changed hands six times until Jesse Owens set the record at the 1935 Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor , Michigan of 8.13 m ( 26 ft 8 in ) that was not broken for 25 years and 2 months , until 1960 by Ralph Boston . Boston improved upon it and exchanged records with Igor Ter - Ovanesyan seven times over the next seven years . At the 1968 Summer Olympics Bob Beamon jumped 8.90 m ( 29 ft 2 ⁄ in ) at an altitude of 7,349 feet ( 2,240 m ) , a jump not exceeded for 23 years , and which remains the second longest legal jump of all time . On 30 August 1991 Mike Powell of the United States set the current men 's world record at the World Championships in Tokyo . It was in a well - known show down against Carl Lewis , who also beat Beamon 's record that day but with an aiding wind ( thus not legal for record purposes ) . Powell 's record 8.95 m ( 29 ft 4 ⁄ in ) has now stood for more than 27 years . </P>
who holds the record for the longest long jump
who holds the record for the longest long jump
Mike Powell
Mike Powell