Mike Powell
- Born
- Nov 10, 1963 (62 years old)
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, United States
- Events
- Long Jump
- Height
- 1.88 m
- Weight
- 77 kg
Mike Powell, born November 10, 1963, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a retired American long jumper who holds the world record in the event. His leap of 8.95 metres, achieved on August 30, 1991, at the World Championships in Tokyo, remains one of the most iconic marks in athletics history.
That record-breaking jump came during an epic duel with Carl Lewis, dethroning Bob Beamon's 23-year-old world record of 8.90 metres set at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Powell's performance is considered one of the greatest moments in track and field history.
A two-time World Championship silver medallist and Olympic silver medallist at the 1988 Seoul Games, Powell's world record has endured for over three decades and counting, cementing his status as one of the greatest long jumpers of all time.
As of Oct 27, 2026: Long Jump 8.95 (#1 all-time), 2003 season best 7.62 (Jan 26, 2003) · Olympic Games: 2 silver · World Championships: 2 gold, 1 bronze · World record (Long Jump) · 62 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | – | 2 | – | 2 |
| World Championships | 2 | – | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | LJ Indoor | 7.62 | – | Jan 26, 2003 | Lewisburg, PA (USA) (i) |
| 2003 | LJ | 7.62 | – | Jan 26, 2003 | – |
| 2001 | LJ | 8.10 | +3.4 | Jun 22, 2001 | Modesto, CA (USA) |
| 1996 | LJ | 8.39 | +0.5 | Jun 19, 1996 | Atlanta, GA (USA) |
| 1995 | LJ | 8.55 | +3.6 | Jun 18, 1995 | Paris (FRA) |
| 1994 | LJ | 8.95 | +3.9 | Jul 31, 1994 | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 1993 | LJ | 8.70 | +0.7 | Jul 27, 1993 | Salamanca (ESP) |
| 1992 | LJ | 8.99 | +4.4 | Jul 21, 1992 | Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona (ESP) |