High Jump

The high jump is a technically demanding discipline. Competitors have to jump over a horizontal bar placed at certain heights. Usually they have three attempts to clear a height and the bar is raised by 3 cm. After three consecutive misses (which do not necessarily have to be at the same height) an athlete is eliminated from this event.


An important part of a jump is the approach, which requires a certain shape, the right amount of speed and a correct number of strides.

After approaching the athlete has to jump off with one foot and try to cross the bar. There are several techniques which have developed and improved over time to do so.


The technique applied today is called the Fosbury Flop, although Christian Schenk cleared 2,27 m in the Straddle technique (crossing the bar belly-down). A main development making this method possible was the introduction of soft landing areas like the foam mats used today. During the approach to the bar the athlete runs the final steps in a curve, turning away from the bar (J shape approach). He then crosses the bar head and shoulders first, landing on his back. While flying the athlete arches his body to keep a large part of the body (meaning the body's center of mass) below the bar.

Good high jumpers among the decathletes like Attila Zsivóczky can clear heights above 2,15 m (10 points for 1 cm).

Some of the best decathletes in this event with their PBs:

• Christian Schenk (GER) - 2,23 m
• Attila Zsivoczky (HUN) - 2,22 m
• Tom Pappas (USA) - 2,21 m
• Leonel Suárez (CUB) - 2,17 m
• Andrei Krauchanka (BLR) - 2,16 m

To compare the current world record for this event is 2,45 m, held by Javier Sotomayor.