Ralph Boston, Olympic long jump champion, dies at 83

Ralph Boston, who in 1960 broke Jesse Owens‘ world record in the long jump and then won the Olympic title, died at age 83, according to Tennessee State, his alma mater, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic alumni association.

Boston died Sunday morning after recently suffering a stroke, according to the Tennessean.

In August 1960, Boston broke Owens’ world record in the long jump that stood since 1935. Boston leaped 8.21 meters, eight centimeters better than Owens.

Three weeks later, Boston took gold at the Rome Olympics.

Boston won silver and bronze at the next two Olympics and remains the lone person to win an Olympic long jump medal of every color. Only Carl Lewis, who won four golds, has more Olympic long jump medals.

Boston broke the men’s long jump world record six times between 1960-65.

Ralph Boston, Olympic long jump champion, dies at 83 originally appeared on NBCSports.com