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High jump: the story on HearLore | HearLore
High jump
The first recorded high jump event took place in Scotland in the 19th century, marking the beginning of a sport that would evolve from a simple test of vertical ability into a complex dance of physics and technique. Early competitors used an elaborate straight-on approach or a scissors technique, where they threw one leg over the bar followed by the other in a scissoring motion. These early jumpers did not have the benefit of modern safety equipment, often landing on hard ground or sawdust mixtures that offered little protection. The evolution of the sport began with the Irish-American Michael Sweeney, who developed the Eastern cut-off technique around the turn of the 20th century. By taking off as in the scissors method but extending his spine and flattening out over the bar, Sweeney raised the world record to 1.97 meters in 1895. This technique remained influential for decades, with John Winter of Australia winning the gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics using the same style, and Iolanda Balaș of Romania dominating women's high jump for about 10 years until her retirement in 1967.
The Straddle Revolution
American and Soviet jumpers were the most successful for the next four decades, and they pioneered the straddle technique, which revolutionized how athletes cleared the bar. Straddle jumpers took off as in the Western roll but rotated their torso, belly-down, around the bar, obtaining the most efficient and highest clearance up to that time. Charles Dumas was the first to clear 7 feet, or 2.13 meters, in 1956, and American John Thomas pushed the world mark to 2.18 meters in 1960. Valeriy Brumel of the Soviet Union took over the event for the next four years, radically speeding up his approach run and taking the record up to 2.24 meters before a motorcycle accident in 1965 ended his career. Brumel's success attracted American coaches, including two-time NCAA champion Frank Costello of the University Maryland, who flocked to Russia to learn from him and his coaches like Vladimir Dyachkov. Despite the dominance of the straddle technique, it would eventually be replaced by a more innovative approach that would change the sport forever.
The Fosbury Flop Emerges
It would be a solitary innovator at Oregon State University, Dick Fosbury, who would bring the high jump into the next century. Taking advantage of the raised, softer, artificially-cushioned landing areas that were in use by then, Fosbury added a new twist to the outmoded Eastern cut-off. He directed himself over the bar head and shoulders first, going over on his back and landing in a fashion that would likely have resulted in serious injury in the old ground-level landing pits. Around the same time, Debbie Brill independently came up with the same technique, which she called the 'Brill Bend'. Since Fosbury used his new style, called the Fosbury flop, to win the gold medal of the 1968 Mexico Olympics, its use spread quickly, and soon 'floppers' were dominating international high jump competitions. The first flopper setting a world record was the American Dwight Stones, who cleared 2.24 meters in 1973. In the female side, the 16-year-old flopper Ulrike Meyfarth from West Germany won the gold medal of the 1972 Munich Olympics at 1.92 meters, which tied the women's world record at that time. However, it was not until 1978 when a flopper, Sara Simeoni of Italy, broke the women's world record.
When did the first recorded high jump event take place and where?
The first recorded high jump event took place in Scotland in the 19th century. This event marked the beginning of a sport that evolved from a simple test of vertical ability into a complex dance of physics and technique.
Who developed the Eastern cut-off technique and when did they set the world record?
The Irish-American Michael Sweeney developed the Eastern cut-off technique around the turn of the 20th century. He raised the world record to 1.97 meters in 1895 by extending his spine and flattening out over the bar.
When did the Fosbury Flop technique become dominant in high jump competitions?
The Fosbury Flop technique became dominant after Dick Fosbury won the gold medal of the 1968 Mexico Olympics. All other techniques were almost extinct in serious high jump competitions after the late 1980s.
Who holds the men's world record in high jump and when was it set?
Javier Sotomayor of Cuba holds the men's world record with a jump of 2.45 meters. He set this record on the 27th of July 1993 in Salamanca.
Who holds the women's world record in high jump and when was it set?
Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine is the women's world record holder with a jump of 2.10 meters. She set this record on the 7th of July 2024 in Paris.
When did the last straddle jumper win an Olympic medal in high jump?
Rosemarie Ackermann of East Germany won the gold medal of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, which was the last time for a straddle jumper to win an Olympic medal. She was the first female jumper ever to clear 1.90 meters.
In spite of this, the straddle technique did not disappear at once. In 1977, the 18-year-old Soviet straddler Vladimir Yashchenko set a new world record of 2.24 meters. In 1978, he raised the record to 2.25 meters, and 2.25 meters indoor, just before a knee injury effectively ended his career when he was only 20 years old. In the female side, the straddler Rosemarie Ackermann of East Germany, who was the first female jumper ever to clear 1.90 meters, raised the world record from 1.88 meters to 1.93 meters during 1974 to 1977. In fact, from the 2nd of June 1977 to the 3rd of August 1978, almost 10 years after Fosbury's success, the men's and women's world records were still held by straddle jumpers Yashchenko and Ackermann respectively. However, they were the last world record holders using the straddle technique. Ackermann also won the gold medal of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, which was the last time for a straddle jumper to win an Olympic medal. In 1980, the Polish flopper, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Jacek Wszoła, broke Yashchenko's world record at 2.25 meters. Two years before, the female Italian flopper Sara Simeoni, the long-term rival of Ackermann, broke Ackermann's world record at 1.93 meters and became the first female flopper to break the women's world record. She also won the gold medal of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where Ackermann placed fourth. Since then, the flop style has been completely dominant, and all other techniques were almost extinct in serious high jump competitions after the late 1980s.
The Physics of Flight
Technique and form have evolved greatly over the history of high jump, with the Fosbury Flop considered the most efficient way for competitors to propel themselves over the bar. For a Fosbury Flop, depending on the athlete's jump foot, they start on the right or left of the high jump mat, placing their jump foot farthest away from the mat. They take an eight- to ten-step approach, with the first three to five steps being in a straight line and the last five being on a curve. The approach angle is critical for optimal height, and athletes generally mark their approach in order to find as much consistency as possible. The straight run builds the momentum and sets the tone for a jump, with the athlete starting by pushing off their takeoff foot with slow, powerful steps, then beginning to accelerate. They should be running upright by the end of the straight portion. The athlete's takeoff foot will be landing on the first step of the curve, and they will continue to accelerate, focusing their body towards the opposite back corner of the high jump mat. While staying erect and leaning away from the mat, the athlete takes their final two steps flat-footed, rolling from the heel to the toe. Most great straddle jumpers run at angles of about 30 to 40 degrees, but the length of the run is determined by the speed of the approach. A slower run requires about eight strides, but a faster high jumper might need about 13 strides. Greater speed allows a greater part of the body's forward momentum to be converted upward.
The J Curve and Takeoff
The J approach favored by Fosbury floppers allows for speed, the ability to turn in the air, and a good takeoff position, which helps turn horizontal momentum into vertical momentum. The approach should be a hard, controlled stride so that the athlete does not fall from running at an angle. Athletes should lean into the curve from their ankles, not their hips. This allows their hips to rotate during takeoff, which in turn allows their center of gravity to pass under the bar. The takeoff can be double-arm or single-arm. In both cases, the plant foot should be the foot farthest from the bar, angled towards the opposite back corner of the mat, as they drive up the knee on their non-takeoff leg. This is accompanied by a one- or two-arm swing while driving the knee. Unlike the straddle technique, where the takeoff foot is planted in the same spot regardless of the height of the bar, flop-style jumpers must adjust their approach run as the bar is raised so that their takeoff spot is slightly farther out from the bar. Jumpers attempting to reach record heights commonly fail when most of their energy is directed into the vertical effort and they knock the bar off the standards with the backs of their legs as they stall. An effective approach shape can be derived from physics, with the rate of backward spin required as the jumper crosses the bar in order to facilitate shoulder clearance on the way up and foot clearance on the way down determined by computer simulation.
The Flight and Landing
The knee on the athlete's non-takeoff leg naturally turns their body, placing them in the air with their back to the bar. The athlete then drives their shoulders towards the back of their feet, arching their body over the bar. They can look over their shoulder to judge when to kick both feet over their head, causing their body to clear the bar and land on the mat. All-time top 25 lists show the highest performances in the sport, with Javier Sotomayor of Cuba holding the world record with a jump of 2.45 meters set on the 27th of July 1993 in Salamanca. This record is the longest-standing in the history of the men's high jump. Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine is the women's world record holder with a jump of 2.10 meters set on the 7th of July 2024 in Paris. The sport has seen many great athletes, including Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, who has won Olympic and World Championship titles, and Patrik Sjöberg of Sweden, who was a former world record holder. The technical aspects of the sport continue to evolve, with athletes using computer simulations to optimize their approach and takeoff. The sport has also seen the rise of doping scandals, with some athletes having their personal bests annulled due to doping offenses. Despite these challenges, the high jump remains one of the most exciting and technically demanding events in track and field.
The Modern Era and Records
The modern era of high jump has seen the dominance of the Fosbury Flop, with all other techniques almost extinct in serious high jump competitions after the late 1980s. The sport has seen many great athletes, including Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, who holds the world record with a jump of 2.45 meters set on the 27th of July 1993 in Salamanca. This record is the longest-standing in the history of the men's high jump. Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine is the women's world record holder with a jump of 2.10 meters set on the 7th of July 2024 in Paris. The sport has also seen the rise of doping scandals, with some athletes having their personal bests annulled due to doping offenses. Despite these challenges, the high jump remains one of the most exciting and technically demanding events in track and field. The sport has seen many great athletes, including Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, who has won Olympic and World Championship titles, and Patrik Sjöberg of Sweden, who was a former world record holder. The technical aspects of the sport continue to evolve, with athletes using computer simulations to optimize their approach and takeoff. The sport has also seen the rise of doping scandals, with some athletes having their personal bests annulled due to doping offenses. Despite these challenges, the high jump remains one of the most exciting and technically demanding events in track and field.