| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
 Ralph Boston |
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| Men's Athletics | ||
Competitor for the  United States |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1960 Rome | Long Jump |
| Silver | 1964 Tokyo | Long Jump |
| Bronze | 1968 Mexico City | Long Jump |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | 1963 Sao Paulo | Long Jump |
| Gold | 1967 Winnipeg | Long Jump |
Ralph Harold Boston (born May 9, 1939 in Laurel, Mississippi) is an American athlete. He was an all around athletic star, but he is best remembered for his successes in the long jump during the 1960s. He divides his time between Atlanta, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee.
As a student at Tennessee State University, Boston won the 1960 National Collegiate Athletic Association title in the long jump also breaking the world record in the long jump, held by Jesse Owens for 25 years, during the summer of 1960. He also qualified for the Summer Olympics in Rome, where he took the gold medal in the long jump.
Between the Olympic Games, Boston won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championship in the long jump in 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964. He also had the longest triple jump for an American in 1963.
Although Boston lost both the national title and the #1 ranking in 1968, he continued to compete. At 29, he won a bronze, finishing behind Bob Beamon at the 1968 Summer Olympics at Mexico City. Shortly after the Games, Boston retired.
[edit] References
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Incumbent |
Men's Long Jump World Record Holder August 12, 1960 – June 10, 1962 |
Succeeded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
| Preceded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
Men's Long Jump World Record Holder August 15, 1964 – October 19, 1967 |
Succeeded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by Rafer Johnson |
Track & Field Athlete of the Year 1961 |
Succeeded by Peter Snell |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Unknown |
Men's Long Jump Best Year Performance 1960 — 1961 |
Succeeded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
| Preceded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
Men's Long Jump Best Year Performance 1963 — 1965 |
Succeeded by Igor Ter-Ovanesyan |
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