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