High jump and pole vault are the two vertical jumping events in athletics. Athletes try to clear a bar set at increasing heights. They are governed by World Athletics. Here is how they work.
High jump basics
- The athlete runs up and takes off from one foot.
- The aim is to clear the bar without knocking it off.
- The athlete lands on a thick mat.
Taking off from both feet is not allowed.
The Fosbury Flop
Earlier, jumpers used styles like the scissors and the straddle. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, American athlete Dick Fosbury won gold by going over the bar head first and back first. This technique, called the Fosbury Flop, is now used by almost all high jumpers.
Pole vault basics
In pole vault, the athlete sprints with a long flexible pole, plants it in a box in the ground, and uses it to swing up and over a much higher bar. Modern poles are made of fibreglass or carbon fibre and bend a lot, storing energy that helps lift the vaulter.
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Rules common to both
- **Three attempts:** at each height, an athlete gets up to three attempts.
- **Elimination:** three failed attempts in a row, at any heights, mean the athlete is out.
- **Passing:** an athlete can choose to skip a height and try at a higher one. Failed attempts carry forward if they pass after a miss.
- **Raising the bar:** officials raise the bar by set amounts after each round.
- **Time limit:** each athlete has a limited time to start an attempt.
Failure
An attempt fails if:
- The bar falls off its supports because of the athlete
- The athlete touches the ground or landing area beyond the bar before clearing it
- In pole vault, the athlete moves the hands up the pole after take off in a way that breaks the rules
Breaking ties
If two athletes clear the same best height, the one with fewer failures at that height wins. If still tied, the one with fewer total failures in the competition wins. For first place, if still tied, a jump off may be held, or athletes may agree to share gold, as happened in the men’s high jump at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Indian highlights
- Tejaswin Shankar won bronze in the men’s high jump at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, India’s first medal in that event at the Games.
- Indian pole vaulters have been competing in Asian events, and national records have improved in recent years.
Tips for beginners
- Learn a safe landing first.
- Work on sprint speed and core strength.
- Train pole vault only with a qualified coach and proper equipment.
Bottom line
In both events, three straight misses end your competition, and clever passing and fewer failures can decide the winner.
Source / स्रोत: World Athletics, Athletics Federation of India
