Long jump

Long jump is a fast and fun sport.

You run down a track very fast. Then you leap from a board. You try to land far away in soft sand.

You must be careful not to step past the line. If you do, the jump does not count. It takes a lot of speed and strength. Athletes want to jump as far as they can. It is a great way to show your skill!

Long jump is an exciting sport. Athletes use speed and strength to leap far.

First, they run fast down a runway. This is called the approach. They must reach a high speed. Then, they jump from a wooden board. This is the takeoff. They must be careful not to step past the foul line. If they do, the jump is a foul.

After the jump, they land in a pit of soft sand. The distance is measured from the foul line to the landing.

This sport is very old. It was part of the ancient Olympic Games.

In ancient Greece, jumpers held weights called halteres. They swung these weights to help them jump further. They did not use sand pits back then. They jumped into a dug-up area called a skamma. Men have competed in the modern Olympics since 1896. Women joined the Olympic program in 1948. Today, athletes work hard to master their speed and their leap.

The long jump is a thrilling track and field event. Athletes use speed, strength, and agility to leap as far as they can.

This sport is part of the horizontal jumps. This group also includes the triple jump. To succeed, a jumper must master many different movements. They want to fly through the air and land far away. Every jump is a test of how much power they can create.

Performing a jump involves five main steps. First, the athlete starts an approach run to build speed. They want to reach a maximum controlled speed before they jump.

Next, they take two special steps to prepare for the leap. The second to last step is longer than the others. This helps the jumper lower their center of gravity. Then comes the takeoff from a wooden or synthetic board. Finally, the athlete moves through the air and lands in a pit of soft, damp sand.

This sport has a very long history. It was part of the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

Back then, the jump might have helped train people for warfare. It likely mirrored crossing streams or ravines. Ancient athletes used weights called halteres in each hand. These weights weighed between 1 and 4.5 kg. They swung the weights to help increase their momentum. They did not land in sand, but in a dug-up area called a skamma.

Modern long jump has many specific rules. In elite meets, athletes run down a rubberized runway. The takeoff board is 20 centimeters or eight inches wide. If a foot goes past the foul line, the jump is a foul. Officials use plasticine or even laser sensors to check this. In many competitions, athletes get three initial attempts. The best eight or nine performers then get three more jumps. The person with the longest valid jump wins the event.

Long jump connects to other fast sports. Because speed is so important, many jumpers are also great sprinters. Famous athletes like Carl Lewis have competed in both. The event has been in the modern Olympics for men since 1896. Women have competed in the Olympics since 1948. Whether in ancient Greece or today, the goal remains the same. Athletes strive to push their bodies to leap further than ever before.

The long jump is a track and field event that tests an athlete's speed, strength, and agility. Competitors attempt to leap as far as possible from a specific takeoff point into a landing area. Along with the triple jump, this event is categorized as one of the "horizontal jumps." It is a sport that requires precise timing and intense physical control. Athletes must balance the need for high velocity with the technical skill required to jump without committing a foul.

Executing a successful jump involves a sequence of five distinct phases. The first phase is the approach run, where the athlete accelerates to a maximum controlled speed. This velocity is vital because the speed at takeoff determines the distance of the trajectory. The second phase involves the last two strides, which prepare the body for the leap. The penultimate step is longer than the others to lower the athlete's center of gravity. The third phase is the takeoff, where the athlete creates a vertical impulse. The fourth phase is the action in the air, and the final phase is the landing.

Takeoff is one of the most technical parts of the entire process. Athletes must place their foot flat on the board to avoid injury or loss of speed. Taking off on the heels can create a braking effect that decreases velocity. Conversely, jumping off the toes can decrease stability and cause the leg to buckle. There are several styles used to achieve a successful takeoff. The double-arm style uses vertical arm movements to increase hip height. The kick style involves cycling the leg to create a large distance. Other methods include the power sprint or bounding takeoff and the sprint takeoff.

The long jump has roots reaching back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. It was the only jumping event in the original pentathlon. Historians believe the event may have trained soldiers to cross obstacles like ravines or streams. Ancient athletes used weights called halteres, which weighed between 1 and 4.5 kg. They swung these weights to increase their momentum during the jump. Unlike modern jumpers, ancient athletes used a short running start. They landed in a dug-up area known as a skamma rather than a sand pit.

Modern competition follows strict rules to ensure fairness and accuracy. At elite levels, athletes run on an all-weather track made of crumb or vulcanized rubber. The takeoff board is 20 centimeters, or eight inches, wide. If any part of the foot crosses the foul line, the jump is declared a foul. Officials use plasticine, or a layer of modeling clay, to detect these fouls. Recent elite competitions, such as Diamond League meetings, now use camera technology and laser sensors.

Competition formats vary depending on the level of the meet. In many events, each competitor receives three initial trials. At large competitions, the best eight or nine performers receive three additional jumps. At the 2025 World Championships, World Athletics introduced a new procedure for the final. The top ten athletes received a fourth attempt, the next eight received a fifth, and the top six received a sixth. The winner is the athlete with the longest valid jump recorded. If there is an exact tie, officials compare the next best jumps to determine the winner.

The long jump has been part of the modern Olympics for men since 1896. Women began competing in the Olympic event in 1948. Because speed is a fundamental requirement, many successful long jumpers are also elite sprinters. Famous examples of this athletic doubling include Carl Lewis and Heike Drechsler. The sport remains a highly technical discipline that connects sprinting mechanics with explosive jumping power.