1991 World Championships in Athletics – Men's long jump in this competition; the still best and still third best wind-legal jumps in history; and the best two long jumps not aided by altitude. Carl Lewis' record at the time was: two time Olympic Gold Medalist, two time World Champion (in the era when it was also still a once-every-4-year event) and, having been undefeated in ten years, he was deservedly considered the best long jumper in the world. Lewis had set the World Record in the 100 metres sprint 5 days earlier. Lewis was in the lead through four rounds: his first round jump of 8.68 set a new
Carl Lewis he failed to qualify for the American team, and Lewis won at Helsinki with relative ease. His winning leap of defeated silver medalist Jason Grimes by . He also won the 100 m with relative ease. There, Calvin Smith who had earlier that year set a new world record in the 100 m at altitude with a 9.93 s performance, was soundly beaten by Lewis 10.07 s to 10.21 s. Smith won the 200 m title, an event which Lewis had not entered, but even there he was partly in Lewis' shadow as Lewis had set an American record in