James Beckford

James Beckford was a three-time Olympic long jumper, winning a silver medal in 1996 behind Carl Lewis. He was a great combination jumper as he also excelled in the triple jump. He won silver medals in the long jump at the 1995 and 2003 World Championships, the 1997 Universiade, the 2004 World Indoor Championships, and the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Between 1995-2007 Beckford was world ranked 11 times in the long jump, ranking #2 in 1995-97 and #3 in 1998-2000 and 2003. Through 2020 he remained the Jamaican national record holder in the triple jump with 17.92 (1995), and his long jump best of 8.62, set in 1997, remained the Jamaican record until Tajay Gayle jumped 8.69 to win the 2019 World Championships. Beckford attended community college in the United States at Blinn College in Texas, where he won eight national junior college titles, winning both long and triple jumps indoors and outdoors in 1994-95.

Personal Bests: LJ – 8.62 (1997); TJ – 17.92 (1995).