The High Jump: Mastering the Art of Soaring Heights

Introduction

The high jump is one of the most captivating events in track and field, combining athleticism, technique, and mental fortitude. This iconic event challenges athletes to leap over a horizontal bar at ever-increasing heights, testing the limits of human capability. Whether you’re an aspiring high jumper or a sports enthusiast, understanding the fundamentals of the high jump can enhance your appreciation for this incredible discipline. The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it.

In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat for landing. Since ancient times, competitors have successively improved their technique until developing the universally preferred Fosbury Flop, in which athletes run towards the bar and leap head first with their back to the bar.

The discipline is, alongside the pole vault, one of two vertical clearance events in the Olympic athletics program. It is contested at the World Championships in Athletics and the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and is a common occurrence at track and field meets. The high jump was among the first events deemed acceptable for women, having been held at the 1928 Olympic Games.

Javier Sotomayor (Cuba) is the world record holder with a jump of 2.45 m (8 ft ¹⁄₄ in) set in 1993 – the longest-standing record in the history of the men’s high jump. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) is the women’s world record holder with a jump of 2.10 m (6 ft 10+¹⁄₂ in) set in 2024.

High Jump Techniques

Mastering the high jump requires a blend of speed, strength, and precision. Here’s a breakdown of the key techniques:

1. Approach Run: The approach typically consists of 8-12 strides in a J-shaped curve. This allows the jumper to build momentum and achieve an optimal angle for takeoff.
2. Takeoff: Athletes use a single foot to push off the ground, converting horizontal speed into vertical lift. Proper alignment and timing are critical here.
3. Flight: During the flight phase, jumpers arch their back over the bar in a motion characteristic of the Fosbury Flop. Flexibility and body control are vital for maintaining clearance.
4. Landing: Athletes land on their backs or shoulders on a cushioned mat to ensure safety

Rules

The rules set for the high jump by World Athletics (previously named the IAAF) are Technical Rules TR26 and TR27 (previously Rules 181 and 182). Jumpers must take off from one foot. A jump is considered a failure if the jumper dislodges the bar or touches the ground or any object behind the bar before clearance.

Competitors may begin jumping at any height announced by the chief judge, or may pass at their own discretion. Most competitions state that three consecutive missed jumps, at any height or combination of heights, will eliminate the jumper from contention. The victory goes to the jumper who clears the greatest height during the final.

Tie breaking

If two or more jumpers tie for any place, the tie-breakers are: 1) the fewest misses at the height at which the tie occurred; and 2) the fewest misses throughout the competition. If the event remains tied for first place (or a limited-advancement position to a subsequent meet), the jumpers have a jump-off, beginning at the next height above their highest success. Jumpers have one attempt at each height. If only one succeeds, he or she wins; if more than one does, these try with the bar raised; if none does, all try with the bar lowered. This process was followed at the 2015 World Championship men’s event and at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

History of the High Jump

The origins of the high jump date back to ancient times, but it gained prominence as a competitive sport in the 19th century. The event was first included in the modern Olympic Games in 1896. Over the years, high jump techniques evolved, with the Fosbury Flop, introduced by Dick Fosbury in the 1968 Olympics, revolutionizing the sport.

Today, the Fosbury Flop remains the standard technique for clearing the bar. The first recorded high jump event took place in Scotland in the 19th century. Early jumpers used either an elaborate straight-on approach or a scissors technique. In later years, the bar was approached diagonally, and the jumper threw first the inside leg and then the other over the bar in a scissoring motion.

Around the turn of the 20th century, techniques began to change, beginning with the Irish-American Michael Sweeney’s Eastern cut-off as a variation of the scissors technique. By taking off as in the scissors method, extending his spine and flattening out over the bar, Sweeney raised the world record to 1.97 m (6 ft 5+¹⁄₂ in) in 1895.

Even in 1948, John Winter of Australia won the gold medal of the 1948 London Olympics with this style. Besides, one of the most successful female high jumpers, Iolanda Balaș of Romania, used this style to dominate women’s high jump for about 10 years until her retirement in 1967.

Another American, George Horine, developed an even more efficient technique, the Western roll. In this style, the bar again is approached on a diagonal, but the inner leg is used for the take-off, while the outer leg is thrust up to lead the body sideways over the bar. Horine increased the world standard to 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) in 1912. His technique was predominant through the 1936 Berlin Olympics, in which the event was won by Cornelius Johnson at 2.03 m (6 ft 7+³⁄₄ in).

American and Soviet jumpers were the most successful for the next four decades, and they pioneered the straddle technique. 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.

Straddle jumper Charles Dumas was the first to clear 7 ft (2.13m), in 1956. American John Thomas pushed the world mark to 2.23 m (7 ft 3+³⁄₄ in) in 1960. Valeriy Brumel of the Soviet Union took over the event for the next four years, radically speeding up his approach run. He took the record up to 2.28 m (7 ft 5+³⁄₄ in) and won the gold medal of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, before a motorcycle accident ended his career in 1965.

American coaches, including two-time NCAA champion Frank Costello of the University of Maryland, flocked to Russia to learn from Brumel and his coaches like Vladimir Dyachkov. However, 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, which were usually filled with sawdust or sand mixtures. 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 2.30 m (7 ft 6+¹⁄₂ in) 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 m (6 ft 3+¹⁄₂ in), which tied the women’s world record at that time (held by the Austrian straddler Ilona Gusenbauer a year before). However, it was not until 1978 when a flopper, Sara Simeoni of Italy, broke the women’s world record.

Successful high jumpers following Fosbury’s lead also included the rival of Dwight Stones, 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in)-tall Franklin Jacobs of Paterson, New Jersey, who cleared 2.32 m (7 ft 7+¹⁄₄ in), 0.59 metres (1 ft 11 in) over his head (a feat equalled 27 years later by Stefan Holm of Sweden); Chinese record-setters Ni-chi Chin and Zhu Jianhua; Germans Gerd Wessig and Dietmar Mögenburg; Swedish Olympic medalist and former world record holder Patrik Sjöberg; female jumpers Ulrike Meyfarth of West Germany and Sara Simeoni of Italy.

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 2.33 m (7 ft 7+¹⁄₂ in). In 1978, he raised the record to 2.34 m (7 ft 8 in), and 2.35 m (7 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in) 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 2 m (6 ft 6+¹⁄₂ in), raised the world record from 1.95 m (6 ft 4+³⁄₄ in) to 2.00 m (6 ft 6+¹⁄₂ in) during 1974 to 1977.

In fact, from 2 June 1977 to 3 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 (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

In 1980, the Polish flopper, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Jacek Wszoła, broke Yashchenko’s world record at 2.35 m (7 ft 8+¹⁄₂ in). Two years before, the female Italian flopper Sara Simeoni, the long-term rival of Ackermann, broke Ackermann’s world record at 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 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. All other techniques were almost extinct in serious high jump competitions after late 1980s.

High Jump Techniques

Mastering the high jump requires a blend of speed, strength, and precision. Here’s a breakdown of the key techniques:

1. Approach Run: The approach typically consists of 8-12 strides in a J-shaped curve. This allows the jumper to build momentum and achieve an optimal angle for takeoff.
2. Takeoff: Athletes use a single foot to push off the ground, converting horizontal speed into vertical lift. Proper alignment and timing are critical here.
3. Flight: During the flight phase, jumpers arch their back over the bar in a motion characteristic of the Fosbury Flop. Flexibility and body control are vital for maintaining clearance.
4. Landing: Athletes land on their backs or shoulders on a cushioned mat to ensure safety.

Technique and form have evolved greatly over the history of high jump. The Fosbury Flop is considered the most efficient way for competitors to propel themselves over the bar.

Approach

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. Athletes generally mark their approach in order to find as much consistency as possible.

The approach run can be more important than the takeoff. If a high jumper runs with bad timing or without enough aggression, clearing the bar becomes more of a challenge. The approach requires a certain shape or curve, the right amount of speed, and the correct number of strides. The approach angle is also critical for optimal height.

The straight run builds the momentum and sets the tone for a jump. The athlete starts by pushing off their takeoff foot with slow, powerful steps, then begins 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. 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 approach favored by Fosbury floppers allows for speed, the ability to turn in the air (centripetal force), 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.

Takeoff

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. For example, 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 can be determined by computer simulation. This rotation rate can be back-calculated to determine the required angle of lean away from the bar at the moment of planting, based on how long the jumper is on the takeoff foot. This information, together with the jumper’s speed, can be used to calculate the radius of the curved part of the approach. One can also work in the opposite direction by assuming a certain approach radius and determining the resulting backward rotation.

Drills can be practiced to solidify the approach. One drill is to run in a straight line and then run two to three circles spiraling into one another. Another is to run or skip a circle of any size two to three times in a row. It is important to leap upwards without first leaning into the bar, allowing the momentum of the J approach to carry the body across the bar.

Flight

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.

Training for the High Jump

To excel in the high jump, athletes focus on specific areas of training:

• Strength Training: Building leg and core strength is essential for explosive takeoffs.
• Plyometrics: Exercises like box jumps and bounding drills improve jump height and power.
• Technique Drills: Practicing the approach, takeoff, and flight mechanics ensures consistency and efficiency.
• Flexibility: Stretching routines enhance body control and prevent injuries.

Records and Notable High Jumpers

The world record for the men’s high jump is held by Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, who cleared an astonishing 2.45 meters in 1993. For women, Stefka Kostadinova of Bulgaria set the record at 2.09 meters in 1987. These records highlight the pinnacle of human achievement in the sport.

Conclusion

The high jump remains one of the most thrilling and inspiring events in athletics. Whether you’re watching elite athletes compete or trying it for the first time, the high jump showcases the beauty of human potential and determination.

If you’re looking to learn more about track and field events or training tips, explore the other articles on our blog. Stay tuned for updates on the latest in the world of sports!