A Bermuda team of six athletes, including four sailors, travelled to Mexico City, Mexico, for the Olympic Games in 1968.
The official Olympic site notes: “The choice of Mexico City to host the 1968 Olympic Games proved to be a controversial one because of the city’s high altitude above sea level: 2,300m. It was the first times the Games had taken place in Latin America, and the altitude proved an advantage in the events which needed a brief, but intense effort, such as short-distance running [up to 800m], jumping, throwing and weightlifting. But the rarefied air proved disastrous for those competing in endurance events that lasted longer than two minutes, such as long-distance and middle-distance running, swimming and cycling.
“The high altitude led to world records in all of the men’s races that were 400m or shorter, plus the long jump and triple jump. Probably the most memorable achievement was Bob Beamon’s spectacular long jump of 8.90m—a world record that would last for 22 years.”
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
- Athletes: 5516
- Teams: 112
- Bermuda athletes: 6
- Sports Bermuda competed in: Athletics & Sailing
- Athletics: Anthony Harper and Jeff Payne
- Sailing: Kirk Cooper, Jay Hooper, Penny Simmons, and Richard Belvin
