MP
Mike Powell

Photo: Eckhard Pecher (Arcimboldo)—CC BY 2.5

Mike Powell

USAUSAMen
Birth dateNov 10, 1963
BirthplacePhiladelphia, United States
Height1.88 m
Weight77 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.

Key facts
Long Jump
8.95
#1 all-time
2003 season best
7.62
Jan 26, 2003 · Lewisburg, PA (USA) (i)
2003 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 2 silver · World Championships: 2 gold, 1 bronze
Record
World record · Long Jump 8.95
World record
Age
62 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Long Jump 8.95 (#1 all-time), 2003 season best 7.62 (Jan 26, 2003, Lewisburg, PA (USA) (i)) · Olympic Games: 2 silver · World Championships: 2 gold, 1 bronze · World record (Long Jump) · 62 years old

PB

Personal bests

10.45
8.95
#1 all-time
🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games-2-2
World Championships2-13
Total2215

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
2003
LJ
7.62-Jan 26, 2003
↑
Lewisburg, PA (USA) (i)
2001
LJ
8.10+3.4Jun 22, 2001
↑
Modesto, CA (USA)
1996
LJ
8.39+0.5Jun 19, 1996
↑
Atlanta, GA (USA)
1995
LJ
8.55+3.6Jun 18, 1995
↑
Paris (FRA)
1994
LJ
8.95+3.9Jul 31, 1994
↑
Bruxelles (BEL)
1993
LJ
8.70+0.7Jul 27, 1993
↑
Salamanca (ESP)
1992
LJ
8.99+4.4Jul 21, 1992
↑
Estadio Olímpico, Barcelona (ESP)
1991
LJ
8.95+0.3Aug 30, 1991
↑
IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
1990
LJ
8.66+0.9Jun 28, 1990
↑
Villeneuve d'Ascq (FRA)
1989
LJ
8.55+4.3May 27, 1989
↑
Bruxelles (BEL)
1988
LJ
8.49+1.8Sep 26, 1988
↑
Olympic Stadium, Seoul (KOR)
1987
LJ
8.27+1.8Apr 29, 1987
↑
Koriyama (JPN)
1986
LJ
8.05+0.9May 23, 1986
↑
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1985
LJ
8.17+0.1May 18, 1985
↑
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1985
100m
10.45+1.0Mar 17, 1985-Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1984
LJ
7.98-1.0Jun 19, 1984
↑
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
1983
LJ
8.06-Feb 19, 1983
↑
Irvine, CA (USA)

2003

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
LJ
7.39+0.4Mar 8Fullerton Ben Brown Invitational, Fullerton, CA
LJ
7.62-Jan 26Lewisburg Bucknell Octagonal, Lewisburg, PA (i)

2001

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
LJ
8.10+3.4Jun 22USA Championships, Eugene, OR
LJ
8.06+1.9May 12Modesto Relays Open, Modesto, CA

1996

15 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
LJ
8.17-0.2Jul 29The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
LJ
8.20+0.2Jul 28-
LJ
8.20+0.2Jul 28The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
LJ
8.20+0.2Jul 26The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
LJ
8.17-0.2Jul 26The XXVI Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Atlanta, GA
LJ
8.16+0.5Jun 27Malmö
LJ
8.39+0.5Jun 19USA Championships, Atlanta, GA
LJ
8.32+0.9Jun 17USA Championships, Atlanta, GA
LJ
5.15+2.6May 25Villeneuve D'ascq Meeting Vittel, Villeneuve d'Ascq
LJ
8.14+0.8May 5Rio de Janeiro GP Brasil de Atletismo, Rio de Janeiro
LJ
8.32+1.8Apr 21-
LJ
8.32+1.8Apr 20Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA
LJ
8.20+2.5Apr 13Azusa, CA
LJ
7.76-Feb 12Maebashi Green Dome Games, Maebashi (i)
LJ
8.13-Feb 9Madrid José M. Cagigal Memorial, Madrid (i)

1995

13 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
LJ
7.45+0.0Aug 16Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
LJ
8.29+0.3Aug 12-
LJ
8.29-0.3Aug 12IAAF World Championships
LJ
8.25+1.4Aug 11IAAF World Championships
LJ
8.25+1.4Aug 5IAAF World Championships
LJ
8.29-0.3Aug 5IAAF World Championships
LJ
8.28+1.1Jul 18-
LJ
8.28+1.1Jul 18Salamanca, Helmántico, Salamanca
LJ
8.09+0.0Jul 10Stockholm DN Galan, Stockholm
LJ
8.28-Jul 5Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
LJ
8.52-0.6Jul 3Paris Meeting Gaz de France, Paris
LJ
8.55+3.6Jun 18Sacramento USATF Championships, Sacramento, CA
LJ
8.29-Jun 3-

1994

18 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
LJ
8.22+0.0Sep 6Madrid
LJ
8.20+1.0Aug 30-
LJ
8.20+1.0Aug 30Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
LJ
8.58+0.2Aug 19Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme, Bruxelles
LJ
8.33+0.5Aug 17Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
LJ
8.95+3.9Jul 31Sestriere
LJ
8.33-1.4Jul 26-
LJ
8.45+2.4Jul 26St. Petersburg Goodwill Games, St. Petersburg
LJ
8.31-Jul 22-
LJ
8.37+2.1Jul 22Oslo Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo
LJ
8.36+1.7Jul 6Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
LJ
8.39+2.5Jul 6Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
LJ
8.68+4.1Jun 18Knoxville USATF Championships, Knoxville, TN
LJ
8.51+1.6Jun 18-
LJ
8.23-1.3Jun 17Knoxville USATF Championships, Knoxville, TN
LJ
8.38+1.4Jun 10Paris-St-Denis L'Humanité, Paris-St-Denis
LJ
8.32+0.2Jun 7Innsbruck
LJ
7.90-1.4Jun 4Hengelo Adriaan Paulen Memorial, FBK Stadium, Hengelo
Showing 1 - 50 of 206

Honours

5

The XXVI Olympic Games

Long Jump

1996
🥇

USA Championships

Long Jump

1996
🥉

IAAF World Championships

Long Jump

1995
🥇

London IAAF Grand Prix Final

Long Jump

1993
🥇

IAAF World Championships

Long Jump

1993
🥈

The XXV Olympic Games

Long Jump

1992
🥇

IAAF World Championships

Long Jump

1991
🥈

The XXIV Olympic Games

Long Jump

1988
🥇

Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme

Long Jump

1987
🥇

Zagreb Universiade

Long Jump

1987
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Mike Powell's Long Jump personal best?

Mike Powell's Long Jump personal best is 8.95, set on Aug 30, 1991 in National Stadium, Tokyo (JPN), #1 on the all-time list.

Which events does Mike Powell compete in?

Mike Powell competes in the Long Jump.

How did Mike Powell perform in 2003?

2003 season best: 7.62, set on Jan 26, 2003 in Lewisburg, PA (USA) (i).

How many medals has Mike Powell won?

Mike Powell has won 2 Olympic Games medals and 3 World Championships medals.

Does Mike Powell hold a world record?

Yes, Mike Powell holds the Long Jump world record with 8.95.