The long jump was part of the
first Olympics in ancient Greece and also was featured in the first
modern games in 1896. Although the long jump has changed substantially
over the past few thousand years, it still is included in track and
field events on the local, regional, national and international levels.
Origin
The
long jump was part of the pentathlon event in the Olympics in ancient
Greece, circa 708 B.C., according to Olympic.org. The other events in
the pentathlon were wrestling, discus and javelin throwing, and running.
Competitors used jump weights called halteres that were made from stone
or lead and shaped like telephone receivers. Long jumpers held the
haltere in front of themselves as they jumped into the air, then threw
it behind them as they descended. Halteres were thought to help jumpers
achieve longer distances.
Development
Jumping
events including the long jump were held throughout ancient Greece and
Europe in festivals, fairs and the Pythian, Istmian and Nemean games,
according to Olympic.org. During the late 1800s in Europe and the United
States, pentathlon-like sporting events also included long jumps, as
did the first modern Olympics in 1896, although haltere weights were
eliminated. The long jump has been included in all of the games since
then, although women did not compete until the 1928 games in Amsterdam,
Holland. In 1912, the International Association of Athletics Federations
was created to govern the long jump and other track and field sports,
and the men's long jump and other track and field events were
standardized in 1932.
Leaders
The
United States and Europe dominated the men's Olympic long jump until
the 1960s, says Olympic.org, when African and Caribbean countries began
to take the top medals. The Soviet Union and East Germany were the top
countries at the beginning of the women's long jump Olympic events.
Modern Day
Today,
many countries in Africa and Asia continue to dominate the Olympic long
jump events for both men and women, Olympic.org says. More than 62
countries competed in track and field event finals during the 2008 games
in Beijing, China. As of the 2008 games, the Olympic world record for
the long jump was 8.95 meters, or 29 feet 8 ¼ inches, for men, and 7.52
meters, or 24 feet 8 ¼ inches, for women, notes
Track-and-Field-Jumpers.com. Lighter and better shoes as well as
advanced long-jump techniques have developed over the centuries.
The long jump was part of the
first Olympics in ancient Greece and also was featured in the first
modern games in 1896. Although the long jump has changed substantially
over the past few thousand years, it still is included in track and
field events on the local, regional, national and international levels.
Origin
The
long jump was part of the pentathlon event in the Olympics in ancient
Greece, circa 708 B.C., according to Olympic.org. The other events in
the pentathlon were wrestling, discus and javelin throwing, and running.
Competitors used jump weights called halteres that were made from stone
or lead and shaped like telephone receivers. Long jumpers held the
haltere in front of themselves as they jumped into the air, then threw
it behind them as they descended. Halteres were thought to help jumpers
achieve longer distances.
Development
Jumping
events including the long jump were held throughout ancient Greece and
Europe in festivals, fairs and the Pythian, Istmian and Nemean games,
according to Olympic.org. During the late 1800s in Europe and the United
States, pentathlon-like sporting events also included long jumps, as
did the first modern Olympics in 1896, although haltere weights were
eliminated. The long jump has been included in all of the games since
then, although women did not compete until the 1928 games in Amsterdam,
Holland. In 1912, the International Association of Athletics Federations
was created to govern the long jump and other track and field sports,
and the men's long jump and other track and field events were
standardized in 1932.
Leaders
The
United States and Europe dominated the men's Olympic long jump until
the 1960s, says Olympic.org, when African and Caribbean countries began
to take the top medals. The Soviet Union and East Germany were the top
countries at the beginning of the women's long jump Olympic events.
Modern Day
Today,
many countries in Africa and Asia continue to dominate the Olympic long
jump events for both men and women, Olympic.org says. More than 62
countries competed in track and field event finals during the 2008 games
in Beijing, China. As of the 2008 games, the Olympic world record for
the long jump was 8.95 meters, or 29 feet 8 ¼ inches, for men, and 7.52
meters, or 24 feet 8 ¼ inches, for women, notes
Track-and-Field-Jumpers.com. Lighter and better shoes as well as
advanced long-jump techniques have developed over the centuries.