Long jump

The long jump is an event used in the athletic category. The test consists of covering as much distance as possible in a horizontal plane after a race. It is one of the most spontaneous sporting gestures that exist today. So we can say that the jump consists of making a single leap forward, taking off with one leg after the impulse generated by the race. It was part of the first Olympic Games in ancient Greece and was also one of the most modern games that were enjoyed for the first time in 1896.

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Pole vault

What is the long jump?

The long jump is an athletics event that consists of covering as much distance as possible within a track and then, perform a single jump forward driven by the race performed. It is one of the oldest sporting disciplines.

About long jump

The long jump must be performed in a certain area. The runner must perform a jump and achieve a fall over a sand pit. The distance of this jump is measured from the position of the board to the most delayed mark made by the athlete on the sand mound. Then we can say that the jump consists of making a single leap forward, taking off with one leg after the impulse generated by the race.

History of the long jump

The long jump has existed in all the sports competitions of antiquity. The Greeks were in charge of including this modality within the Olympic Games in the year 776 before Christ, at which time the jump was made with halter weights, which were a kind of weights, and carried them in each hand. Athens was the first place where the competitions were enhanced, including the long jump. It began to be part of the Olympic Games in early 1896 and in 1928 women were allowed to participate in this discipline. At the beginning of the 19th century, Adam William made a jump of 5.41 meters. Another important representative was John Lane, who jumped 7.05 meters in 1874.

Long jump rules

• Competitors have three different opportunities to make the jump and the top eight are chosen from among all participants.
• The longest jump is taken into account.
• If there is a tie, the competitor with the second longest jump wins.
• If the player does a cartwheel, walks backwards on the track, exceeds the set time or touches the deployment indicator, he will be disqualified.
• The measurement of the jump is taken from the edge closest to the sand mark.
• The time for jump attempts is one minute and two minutes during the final stages of competition.

Long jump phases

The main phases of the long jump are as follows:

• Race phase: this phase is the foundation of the jump. It must be previously measured with great precision and must be performed with a progression movement lifting the thigh. The penultimate support is longer than the others and the last is the shortest.
• Beating phase: the beating phase is the moment in which the race is transformed into a jump. This phase begins by resting the foot on the board and ends with the loss of that contact that has been generated, first of all. The beating foot arrives at the sole board with full support.
• Flight phase: depending on the jump length and the jumper’s experience there can be different types of flight. The simplest of the techniques that is learned by competitors is the Natural Technique, which consists of performing the translation in a seated position.
• Fall phase: the fall phase must be carried out in such a way that the first part that comes into contact with the sand is the most backward mark. We must then try to fall into the gap left by the athlete’s feet, forward or to one side, but should never leave a mark further behind, as this will be where the measure for qualification is taken.

Track

Although there is no standard measurement for performing the track jump, acceleration tracks generally measure approximately 50 meters. Within the track, the jump lines are located between one and three meters before reaching the pit. After the line, a modelling clay board or a similar material must be placed to allow an adequate visibility of the event. In the landing area, better known as the pit, a wet sand bank should be placed, measuring approximately 3 meters wide and ten meters long.

Shoes

The shoes with nails are the ones used in the long jump because they give a better push and grip to the runner. These shoes are made of materials such as Eva foam, which absorbs the impact suffered by the runner when he falls. The nail lengths vary from 3mm to 15mm and will depend on the type of surface and the test to be performed.