High jump is one of the few athletics events where the winning technique changed the sport entirely. Since American jumper Dick Fosbury introduced his back-first clearance method at the 1968 Olympics, the Fosbury Flop has become the near-universal technique at every level of competition.
How the Event Works
Athletes attempt to clear a horizontal bar without knocking it off its supports, with the bar raised progressively after each round. Competitors get three attempts at each height, and three consecutive misses at any height eliminates them from the competition.
Why the Fosbury Flop Took Over
The technique involves approaching the bar in a curved run before arching the back over it, clearing the bar head and shoulders first rather than face-down. It allows the jumper’s center of mass to pass closer to, or even below, the bar itself, which is far more efficient than older straddle or scissor techniques.
- Three attempts allowed at each height
- Three consecutive misses eliminates an athlete
- Ties are broken by fewest total misses, then fewest misses at the winning height
Common Fouls
A jump is ruled a failure if the bar falls, if the athlete takes off from both feet, or if any part of the body touches the ground or landing mat beyond the vertical plane of the bar before clearance. These rules exist to keep the event a genuine test of jumping ability rather than technical loopholes.
Comparing High Jump to Pole Vault
While both events involve clearing a horizontal bar, pole vault adds the complexity of a flexible pole generating additional height, a mechanical difference explained fully in our guide to how pole vault works. High jump relies purely on the athlete’s body mechanics and approach speed.
Technical Overlap With Long Jump
Despite looking like a completely different discipline, high jumpers share several approach-run principles with long jumpers, particularly around building controlled speed into the take-off. Our long jump technique guide covers similar approach mechanics from a horizontal perspective.
The Bottom Line
High jump has barely changed technically since the late 1960s, a testament to just how efficient the Fosbury Flop turned out to be. Understanding the scoring and foul rules makes close competitions far easier to follow.