Carl Lewis Wins Four Gold Medals in Los Angeles

In August 1984, Carl Lewis entered the Los Angeles Olympic Games carrying unprecedented public expectations. After missing the 1980 Moscow Games because of the United States boycott, Lewis had established total dominance in track and field over the following three years. Comparisons with Jesse Owens had followed him since college, and at the Los Angeles Games, Lewis formally targeted the exact schedule Owens had conquered at Berlin in 1936: the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the long jump, and the 4 by 100 meter relay.

His Olympic campaign opened cleanly in the 100-meter sprint. Lewis took gold in 9.99 seconds, finishing two-tenths of a second ahead of his American teammate Sam Graddy. Two days later, however, his victory in the long jump provoked sharp controversy. With multiple heats and finals still ahead in the sprints, Lewis intended to conserve his physical energy and avoid injury in cool conditions. His opening leap of 8.54 meters proved sufficient to secure first place over Australia's Gary Honey, who reached 8.24 meters.