Ralph Boston, an Olympic Gold medalist and long jump world-record holder, passed away on May 9th at his home near Atlanta at the age of 83. Boston set the world record six times during the 1960s. His first world record came right before the Rome Olympics, where he surpassed Jesse Owens’s 25-year-old record with a jump of 26 feet, 11 inches. Boston went on to win gold at the Rome games and then broke the 27-foot barrier nine months later. He became the first person to jump 27 feet, and broke or matched the world record six times in the 1960s, winning a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, and bronze at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Together with his victories, Boston was well known for his fluid technique and ability to jump distances that were deemed impossible at the time. He was a nine-time national champion, received the US Olympic Committee’s highest honor, the Jack Kelly Award, and the Jesse Owens Award. Boston was also an advocate for the rights of African American athletes in the 1960s.
Boston was warming up with fellow American long-jumper Bob Beamon at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City when Beamon made history by jumping 29-2 1/4, shattering Boston’s record. Beamon later credited Boston with teaching him to adjust his footwork in the run-up to that historic jump.
Ralph Boston’s dedication and achievements made a lasting impact on the sport. He was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the US Olympic Hall of Fame and the US Track and Field Hall of Fame, and will always be remembered for his contributions to long jumping, both on and off the field.
