ABSTRACT

The basic technique used in long jumping has remained unchanged since the beginning of modern athletics in the mid-nineteenth century. The athlete sprints down a runway, jumps up from a wooden take-off board, and flies through the air before landing in a pit of sand. A successful long jumper must, therefore, be a fast sprinter, have strong legs for jumping, and be sufficiently coordinated to perform the moderately complex take-off, flight, and landing maneuvers. The best women long jumpers achieve distances of about 6.5-7.5 m, whereas the best men (who are faster and stronger) reach about 8.0-9.0 m.