As he stood making ready for his now legendary fifth spherical soar on the 1964 Olympic Video games, Lynn Davies recalled some clever phrases from his coach Ron Pickering.
“While you’re on the runway, watch the flag on the high of the stadium as a result of that’s a great indication of the wind,” he mentioned.
Circumstances for the lengthy soar closing on the Tokyo Video games had been the worst potential, with robust headwinds, torrential rain and puddles on the cinder monitor.
Davies had overheard the world report holder Ralph Boston inform a workforce mate he didn’t assume anybody able to leaping eight metres that day.
However as he watched that devoted flag drop, the Welshman knew his window of alternative had opened.
He tore down the runway, hit the board and launched himself into the sodden sand.
The scoreboard circled and it confirmed 8.06m.
That distance not solely earned Davies the Olympic title, however the lifelong nickname of Lynn ‘the leap’.