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Most jumpers today use the style known as the Fosbury Flop to clear the
bar. The Fosbury Flop was named after an American jumper named Dick Fosbury,
who used the style to win the event in the 1968 Olympics. To do the flop,
jumpers approach the crossbar nearly straight on, they leap and twist on
takeoff, rise above the bar headfirst, clear the bar with their backs facing
toward the ground, and land on the foam pad with their shoulders. High
jumpers must completely clear the bar without knocking it off the standers.
There are three methods of jumping used, one (the old style of jumping)
the jumper would leap head frist with his front facing the bar. He then
would kick one leg over and turn to the side as the other leg followed.
The jump is called the Western roll. Another style of jumping would be
the scissor kick. This jump is when the jumper leaps up and kicks his legs
up and lands on his feet. This style is still used but not as affective
as the flop. The other method mostly used today is the Flop. The jumper
twists after jumping, clearing the bar with the back facing down, as shown
here. Highest jumper in the world is Javier Sotomayor from Cuba and he jumped
2.45m in July 27 1993 in Salamanca, Spain. He is known a the only man to jump over 8 feet.
Old Style (The Western Role)
New Style (The Flop)