Carl Lewis
What worried the most was that his
tendon was about to be cut and doctors stated he would have never jumped like before.
Fortunately he could go on practicing long jump and at the age of 13 he jumped 5,51 m.
Then in the years after he realized a nice progression in this event: 6,07 m, 6,93 m, 7,26 m
and 7,85 m when he was 17. Trainers pointed out him as a young promise. In fact in 1979 he
was allowed to enter the national team and to take part to the Pan-American games in San
Juan, Portorico. He arrived 1 hour late (because trainers gave him the wrong program of the
games) but judges made him jump anyway after Carl's explanation. And it was really a
worthy decision: he placed third with 8,13 m at the last jump. A prophetic measure as it was
formerly Owens' world record (which lasted 25 years). Meanwhile he spent part of his time
even to train in 100 m and in 1979 he run 10"67.
Only boycott prevented him to be at the Olympic games of Moscow the following year. In
annaabi.ee 
