Powell loans world record souvenirs to IAAF heritage exhibition

Bengaluru, June 13: Long jump world record holder Mike Powell loaned the Tokyo 91 world record vest and number to the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Heritage World / Continental Cup - 1977 To 2018 Exhibition in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Powell, the two-time world long jump champion, who is the IAAF Continental Cup Team Americas Ambassador made the trip 'over the pond' ahead of Golden Spike IAAF World Challenge meeting in Ostrava.

The exhibition, which is located in the Forum Nova Karolina Shopping Centre in the centre of the city, was open from June 5. It is open seven days a week for the next three months and will close on September 9, the last day of the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018 competition.

The exhibition is kindly supported by the International Athletics Foundation, ASICS, Seiko, TDK and Mondo and is delivered by IAAF Heritage along with the Czech Athletics Federation and the LOC of the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018.

Powell officially handed over the world record vest and number to Valter Bocek, Chief Executive Officer of the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018, the USA team vest and competition numbers which he wore at the IAAF World Championships Tokyo 1991.

Mike Powell loans his Tokyo 1991 world record vest and number to IAAF Heritage Exhibition in Ostrava. More: https://t.co/gKTkPOVK0A pic.twitter.com/GJBzeahKBd

— IAAF (@iaaforg) June 12, 2018

It may be recalled that on August 30, 1991, in a fantastic head-to-head long jump duel with fellow American Carl Lewis, Powell's fifth round 8.95M fetched him the gold, breaking the world record which had been set by the legendary Bob Beamon in the Mexico Olympic Games almost 23 years earlier.

In 2018, some 27 years since Toyko, Powell's leap remains the world record.

"It's gives me great pleasure to be here in Ostrava and to loan my Tokyo competition top and numbers for public display at the IAAF Heritage Exhibition to help tell the story of our sport's wonderful history," said Powell.

"I look forward to returning to the city in September for the Continental Cup where I'll act as captain for Team Americas. This is going to be fun!"

On show in the exhibition along with the bib is a signed copy of the September 9, 1991 edition of Sports Illustrated, the front cover of which has an image of Powell in-flight moments prior to setting the record.

(With inputs from IAAF).