| Before 1954, running a sub four-minute mile | | | | record speed in the 100 meters, Lewis had |
| was considered to be impossible according to | | | | advanced the long jump record to 28' 7". |
| physiologists at that time. It was thought | | | | |
| that a four-minute mile was the physical | | | | In the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, |
| limit of the human body. | | | | five days after just setting the world record |
| | | | in the 100 meters by running it in 9.86 |
| When Englands' Roger Bannister ran a 3:59.4 | | | | seconds, Lewis' 10-year unbeaten streak in |
| to break the world record, he not only broke | | | | the long jump came to an end, even though he |
| a physical barrier but he also broke a | | | | put together the greatest series of jumps in |
| psychological barrier as well. | | | | history. Lewis had never before reached 29 |
| | | | feet, and this day he did it three times, |
| Australian John Landy, who was considered to | | | | including 29' 2" (wind-aided) and 29' 1" |
| be the premier miler of that era, was at a | | | | (against the wind). But Mike Powell, who had |
| restaurant in Helsinki when news came to him | | | | lost 15 consecutive times to Lewis, unleashed |
| of Bannister's achievement. | | | | the longest jump in history -- 29' 4" (8.90 |
| | | | m). Powell had stunned Lewis and the world by |
| "I had got into this frame (of mind) where I | | | | finally beating the 23 year-old-record. |
| had easily the best performances. Bannister | | | | |
| had only run 4:02 once. I'd done it six | | | | I've used these two stories from the sports |
| times. I was staggered. I thought: 'Wow, what | | | | world to illustrate that the things that |
| an amazing performance', but I was pretty | | | | often hold us back, are more psychological |
| positive. I thought if he can run that, maybe | | | | than physical. Limiting barriers are more in |
| I can run it. It certainly raised my sights." | | | | our minds than actual reality. |
| | | | |
| Six weeks later, Landy, broke Bannisters' | | | | Henry Ford |
| record by running a 3:58.0. | | | | |
| | | | "If you think you can do a thing or you think |
| Later that year, in the "Mile of the | | | | you can't do a thing, you're right." |
| Century", in a race to decide who was the | | | | |
| fastest miler in the world, Bannister ran a | | | | You are not limited by anything except your |
| 3:58.8 to Landys' 3:59.6. It was the first | | | | own limiting thoughts. Many times, |
| time two men had run sub-four-minutes miles | | | | psychological barriers are just arbitrary |
| in the same race. | | | | standards. They could be marks such as |
| | | | earning $100,000 a year, getting straight A's |
| By the end of 1957, sixteen runners had | | | | in school, or setting new sales records. Why |
| accomplished the feat. Now what was thought | | | | is it we establish these marks? We as human |
| impossible has become common, at least among | | | | beings are goal-seeking organisms. We need |
| elite runners. John Walker of New Zealand ran | | | | something to work towards. A worthy goal |
| at least a hundred sub-four-minute miles in | | | | gives us something to shoot for. |
| his career but American Steve Scott has the | | | | |
| most with 136. The current record in the mile | | | | I'm sure Mike Powell, on his way to breaking |
| is 3:43.13, held by Hicham El Guerrouj of | | | | Bob Beamons' record had preliminary goals he |
| Morocco. | | | | had to achieve. He first had to break the 25 |
| | | | foot mark, then the 26 foot mark, and so |
| Another long-standing psychological barrier | | | | forth, until, after years of long training, |
| in the world of sports was Bob Beamons' | | | | spurred on by stiff competition from Carl |
| incredible long jump of 29' 4 1/2" (8.90 m) | | | | Lewis, he put it all together to break one of |
| in the 1968 Olympics. Beamon didn't just set | | | | the greatest records in sports history. |
| the world record. He demolished it. In a | | | | |
| sport where records are broken by inches and | | | | Many times we don't achieve our goals or |
| seconds, Beamon shattered the record by | | | | objectives because we believe they are beyond |
| nearly two feet. He not only became the first | | | | our reach. When we see someone obtain some |
| man to jump over 29 feet but he was also the | | | | great achievement, we think it looks so easy. |
| first man to jump over 28 feet. | | | | We just don't see the long years of hard work |
| | | | that got them there. Great achievements take |
| Oddly enough, Beamons' coach at the '68 | | | | time, no matter what field you are in. |
| Olympics was Ralph Boston. In 1960, Boston | | | | Working toward your goal requires a lot of |
| had broken Jesse Owens long jump record set | | | | faith because you just don't know whether it |
| in 1935. It had held for 25 years. From 1960 | | | | will all pay off. Goals are not reached |
| to 1967, the record had only advanced by 8 1 | | | | without struggle. Long-range goals require |
| 2" inches. | | | | great endurance of faith and persistence. |
| | | | |
| Beamons' incredible leap was thought to be a | | | | Breaking down our psychological barriers |
| freak accident that would never be | | | | often comes down to trying one more time, |
| duplicated. It was an accomplishment that was | | | | trying a different approach or adjusting your |
| totally beyond Beamons' or anyone else's | | | | methods just the right way. It's for sure; |
| ability at that time. Beamon never came close | | | | you will never get past your roadblocks |
| to that mark again. It was considered to be | | | | without trying. |
| the athletic feat of all time. | | | | |
| | | | Success comes to those who overcome |
| In the late eighties, Carl Lewis had begun to | | | | obstacles, conquers adversity and never gives |
| creep closer to Beamons' mark. With his world | | | | up. |