High Jump

“A contest against gravity”

High Jump, is perhaps one of the most classic events in athletics. It’s history going back as far as the 1800s with the first official event taking place in Scotland. The technique utilised by athletes in the event has transitioned over time from one style to the next with the ‘scissors’ technique being the starting point. This would enable an athlete to land comfortably on their feet. Of course back in those days there was no mattress to fall onto so ensuring you cleared the bar and also didn’t break a leg in the process was the challenge. Soon American George Horine would go on to develop the ‘Western Roll’ where he would roll sideways first across the bar. As a result of his technique he was able to push the world record up to 2.01m in 1912.  For the next 40 years this technique was largely utilised until in 1968 at the Mexico Olympics Dick Fosbury showcased to the world the flop technique that is still used today.