The long jump is a track and field event where the athlete takes a long run up, before stepping onto the take-off board and leaping as far as possible into the air and landing in a sand pit.

longjump

Athletics jump

The technique

Long jump 2

The long jump is probably the second event an athlete would try after running, as sprinting ability and good speed when the athlete takes off are crucial for success. However, there is no sure way for an athlete to stay in the air for a long time. Some athletes do an impression of walking up stairs during their jump while others just attempt to hang in the air and can jump just as far.

Statistics

  • In 1968 Bob Beamon added almost 2ft to the world record in one attempt, jumping 8.90m, and held the world record for 23 years.

  • Mike Powell has been the only other athlete to jump further, jumping 8.95m in 1991.

  • The women’s world record-holder is Galina Chistyakova (USSR), who jumped 7.52m in 1988.

  • America's Carl Lewis, although 4 times Olympic Champion, never held the world record.

  • In 1935 Jesse Owens set a long jump world record that remained unbroken until 1960.

  • The USA has won 22 out of the 25 Olympics where it has competed in the long jump.

athletics key facts

Key facts

  • The runway is at least 40m long.

  • The take-off board is 20cm wide and has a strip of plasticine attached so it is more easy to see when an athlete has fouled.

  • 12 athletes compete in an Olympic long jump final.

running feet

Rules

  • If an athlete's take-off foot goes over the take-off board this is a foul.

  • The sole of a long jumper’s shoe must not exceed 13mm in thickness.

  • A jumper must take off in front of the far edge of the take-off board.

  • Jumpers must land in the sand pit and are measured from their first imprint in the sand.

  • Each athlete gets 3 jumps. The top 8 then get a further 3 attempts.