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Sports, Law and Life: Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon, Long Jump Record Holder

More than a half century ago, Bob Beamon leapt into the Olympic history books with a record-breaking long jump that shattered the existing mark by nearly two feet. While countless other records have fallen many times over, Beamon’s mark of 8.90 meters (29 ft. 2 1⁄2 in) set at the 1968 Mexico City games remains the Olympic standard. Beamon brought the historic moment to life for a crowd gathered at Harvard Law School on Sept. 24, with a vivid retelling of the gravity-defying jump that cemented his status as Track and Field royalty. 
At Harvard Law School, Beamon joined his longtime attorney Frank K. Wheaton, and Angela Ciccolo, Special Olympics chief legal officer, for an event sponsored by the Harvard Project on Disability (HPOD). Professor William Alford ’77, co-founder of the HLS project with Visiting Professor Michael Stein ’88, brought the trio together to discuss not only Beamon’s legendary leap, but also his humanitarian efforts including his work as a Global Ambassador with the Special Olympics.

2019 SRJC Commencement Ceremony

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