Yesterday a friend asked me whose life I would have liked to live. The truth is that this question appellant with friends always gave me a bad feeling. We all have a life and that of walking envious of those who chose to live with passion and do something important with her, I find a comfortable and a little gesture ruin. In short, said he envied Bob Beamon . "Who?" My friend asked with some RELIABILITY, assuming he was talking about a British writer XVI century .
17 October. A Hotel in Mexico DF .
Imagine a black boy of Long Island, fond of jokes and beautiful women in a hotel in Mexico City celebrating his 22nd birthday. It is 1968, then lived full season of black power and the struggle for civil rights in America. Perhaps that is why Bob , despite being almost beardless, wearing a beard a little ridiculous, style Patrice Lumumba and gestures like those pompous arrogance So the grandchildren of slaves seeking to balance its legacy of centuries of humiliation. It has a beautiful body and strong, kisses his girl and repeatedly called times in the biblical sense of the word. These are also times of free love and experimenting with ways promulgated by the rock and Timothy Leary , a white guy and somewhat aristocratic. Maybe that's why the legend add marijuana and alcohol that night in which very little is known, a night that was not very different to another if it were not Bob, the next day, very early, had to compete in the long jump test of the Olympics Mexico.
18 October. Stadium Mexico City Olympic .
There was, standing at his side, the favorite Soviet, Igor Terovanesyan , owner of the incredible world record of 8.35 m. There was also the British Lyn Davis , the Olympic champion. Looked at each of the jumping around (all much more famous than him) and asked what he was doing there. Bob had a great brand, but had not jumped many times over eight meters. That day in the qualifying round of , there was little able to pass the 7.65 m to reach the final. The truth is that he started playing basketball in college and had little time to practice athletics. I liked it, but it bothered him a little demanding and rigorous bothered to see today the face of his coach, upset because he had known of his small party.
finally touched him jump. He did so with enthusiasm and focus as always, but his career was a bit faster than usual: he feared for his jump off that zero or can not control, but everything went well, though he felt a little strange in the air. By fall, he knew instantly that this was the best jump of his life. He was surprised, however, see that the judge remained motionless, without measuring his leap. The reason was simple: the formal mechanism of the track was not prepared for such a long distance measuring. They should go get a tape together. The seconds passed. Thousands of people in the stadium in Mexico waiting for the result, thousands of people in the world did. Bob , looked with feigned calm, from the side of the track.
An end to a story
8.90 m. That official said the cartel. It seemed a joke, but it was not. Bob ran down the runway. Fell on the floor. Cried. Perhaps he thought at some point not too happy about his distant childhood, in their neighborhood friends, or perhaps simply did not think of anything. Indeed, the only certainty is that there was a new Olympic champion and new world record that exceeded the previous 55 cm, which never happened. They discussed the leap of the century, said no one could never overcome, Lyn Davis, resigned to losing their Olympic crown, said Bob had "destroyed discipline "was the most glorious day in the history of modern athletics.
Another
final Tragedy is often said that more time comedy. It could also be said that more time equals Gloria to everyday life, a routine and mediocrity. Is that why I like places such as Bob , glories momentary, ephemeral: I like men destined to shine greatly harmless discipline (why not), useless and which then disappear as if by magic. All human actions, in my opinion, have the courage of passion we put into them. Bob , his beard ridiculous and strength of Titan, he was never the same after that incredible day. In the next two years, there never was able to jump over eight meters. He left the Athletics for a while because "there was no reason to follow." Then played basketball at , unnoticed. He returned to athletics with new enthusiasm, but could not pass the 8.22 m and finally retired.
Today, at age 62, works at a sports complex in Miami , which will surely help you lose weight to Cuban exiles and Jewish bankers removed. August 30 1991 World Cup final in athletics Tokyo, nearly 23 years later, his compatriot Mike Powell jumped 8.95 m in another incredible day. But that (perhaps) is another story.
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