A horizontal Olympic field event in which athletes sprint down a runway and leap into a sandpit, judged on distance jumped.
Origin and rules
The long jump was part of the ancient Greek pentathlon. The modern event was contested at the first modern Olympics in 1896. Athletes sprint down a runway, take off from a board, and leap into a measured sandpit.
How it plays
Each athlete gets six attempts in elite competition. The longest legal jump counts. Athletes must take off behind a foul line, and a fault is called if any part of the foot crosses it. Wind readings above 2 metres per second invalidate records.
Competition
The World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games are the leading events. The men’s world record of 8.95 metres has stood for Mike Powell since 1991. Carl Lewis, Bob Beamon, and Heike Drechsler are among the most celebrated long jumpers.
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Long Jump starts with L and ends with P. Browse other sports along the same letter.
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