Ralph Boston, an American track athlete who received three Olympic medals and became the first person to break the 27 feet (8.2 m) barrier in the long jump died Sunday, April 30 at the age of 83 following complications from a recent stroke.

Born on May 9, 1939, in Laurel, Miss., Boston laid claim to fame during an Olympic tune-up meet in August 1960 where he set the long jump world record with a leap of 26 feet and 11.25 inches, besting the mark set by the legendary Jesse Owens 25 years prior by three inches.

The next month, Boston represented Team USA at the XVII Olympiad, where he won gold after setting an Olympic record in the long jump with a leap of 26-7 1/2 meters. In addition to his Olympic success, Boston won the NCAA long jump championship while at TSU, where he also excelled in the high jump, triple jump, and hurdles.

Boston, who had just set a national record in the high hurdles in high school, added to his growing legend at the Modesto Relays in May 1961 by breaking his own world record in the long jump. Boston became the first man in history to jump more than 27 feet in the event, with a leap of 27′ 1/2″.

Boston was a celebrated Olympian who went on to break the men’s long jump world record on several occasions. He won silver in Tokyo in 1964 and bronze in Mexico City in 1968 before retiring from competition.

His post-track and field career includes seven years as an administrator at the University of Tennessee and stints as a CBS and ESPN commentator.

Boston was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985.

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