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The incomparable Carl Lewis

S.R. Suryanarayan

He emulated Jesse Owens’s feat

In the August of 1997, appropriately at the Berlin Olympic stadium with over 50,000 adoring fans watching him, Carl Lewis bade farewell to athletics, the sport that recognised him as a King for nearly two decades. With nine Olympic gold medals, four in a row in long jump, and an array of World records, he was a phenomenon.

Memories flood. A long jumper of merit in school, Lewis’s prowess had him ready for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The American boycott, however, denied him the chance to compete at age 19.

Announcing his arrival

Four years later, in front of his home crowd in Los Angeles, Lewis announced his arrival on World stage with a bang. A winning start in the 100m set the tone.

Two days later just one leap in the long jump ensured him his second gold (8.54 mts). Lewis had not finished.

The 200m next brought him his third gold clocking 19.80s. Then came the big moment, the fourth gold as part of the US relay team (4 x 100m). Lewis had emulated Jesse Owens’ feat of 1936 Berlin Games and how!

Lewis was already an icon by now. He was the World champion in 100m and long jump apart from being a member of the gold-winning team at the Helsinki World meet in 1983.

Focus was firmly on him at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, a Games that threw up the spectre of drugs. Lewis clocked his best time in 100m (9.92s) but Ben Johnson bettered with a mind-boggling 9.79s.

As it happened Johnson had to leave in disgrace after being tested positive for drugs. Lewis benefited.

At the long jump pit next, Lewis’s fourth attempt was an impressive 8.72 m, enough for the second gold.

At the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Lewis was keyed up for the long jump event, particularly after Mike Powell had stopped his 65-win streak at the ‘91 Tokyo World championship (an event where Powell broke Bob Beamon’s long-standing record).

Powell was his rival and Lewis had his revenge, winning with an 8.67m effort. Soon after he brilliantly anchored the US quartet in the short relay for another gold.

Making history

At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 the 35-year-old Lewis made history — an unparalleled fourth successive gold medal in long jump.

A struggle in the qualifying rounds notwithstanding, the remarkable athlete’s winning jump of 8.50m fetched him his ninth gold medal in Olympics.

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