World Record Progression: The High Jump

[@ronricherson6685]

As a former high jumper, I can tell you that there's nothing more exhilirating than clearing a high jump bar that is higher than you! I got to compete against Dwight Stones when he was the world record holder. TBH, I wasn't near his level, but seeing him jump well over 7 feet in person from just a few feet away was amazing.

[@Poundcakebowler]

One of the best minds in the sport as well. Him, Masback, and my friend Larry Rawson

[@ronricherson6685]

I agree Bill, the combination of Dwight's enthusiasm and T&F knowledge are most appreciated by yours truly.

[@BrianHoff04]

I was a high school jumper.. my mental barrier was my eye line. Took a month to get past it. Then.. nothing seemed too high (I'm 5'9"). My limit was 6' so my medals were few (too short to get 2nd.. ever). But like you said.. the thrill of jumping remains with me today (59 years old). I can do 5ft pretty easily and it just feels good to jump. I dare anyone to sack race me... I'm a frog.

[@Winter0master]

In high school I saw people do the Fosbury flop but I never really thought about just how crazy the first person must have looked!

[@dneary]

Jumping into sandpits, no less!

[@denso5688]

Up until the late 1960s most countries only had sand pits or wood chips to land in. Since these were frequently quite compacted and not raised from the ground, it made for a pretty hard landing when coming down from over 6 feet. The landing from the Western Roll being on 2 hands and the takeoff foot offered a bit of cushioning (like an aircraft undercarriage), however coming down from the Straddle the only cushioning is offered by the leading arm and hip - often accompanied by an uncomfortable thud. Psychologically, it is less desirable knocking the bar off in a Straddle (often resulting in a whack in the groin), than with the Flop, where contact with the bar is usually on the back of the body. Remember that every high jump competitor always ends each event with 3 failures.

[@heywoodjablowme8120]

A guy on our high school track team was back to back state champ his best was 6-11 3/4 inches. Standing 6 foot tall I was always amazed that he could jump over me by almost a foot 🦶.

[@siegfriedo]

I think it is worth mentioning, that the women's world record 2.09 m by Stefka Kostadinova from August 1987 still stands. 36 years...

[@roadrunner381]

That is incredible in itself, for that many yrs!

[@DeadSparko]

This comment aged well

[@siegfriedo]

@@DeadSparko right? 😃

[@s190309]

Yaroslava Mahuchikh recently set new world record 2.10m

[@Patashu]

I love how the meta keeps changing as people find new ways to yeet themselves over a bar

[@laxxius]

same here

[@alZiiHardstylez]

Fosbury flop was OP but, probably should have been nerfed.

[@thehylianloach9473]

These World Record Progression videos are AWESOME, please do more!

[@kr12a2y]

One way to understand how great the fosbury flop was is to note that it allows mediocre high schoolers these days to go well over 6' regularly.

[@Ancient1341]

woah woah woah, I'm not exactly sure it call 6' mediocre. That was my PR at one point 😂

[@BrianHoff04]

@@Ancient1341 Same.. that was my limit. I was 5'9" so felt great to clear my on height in 1983.

[@douglascoleman1252]

Although you have referenced only men’s high jump I would like to point out that when you are discussing the various styles/techniques of jump this narrative requires a very substantial correction. What is commonly referred to as the “Fosbury Flop,” in Canada is referred to as the “Brill Bend.” Apparently, Dick Fosbury experimented with a number of styles before quite late in his jumping career when he was jumping consistently in the eponymous style attached to his surname, a young girl from Canada named Debbie Brill, who started competing in high jump meets at age 13 (1965/66) ALWAYS used that technique. She did not use the Straddle or the Western Roll as precursors. Even when her teachers in school urged her to use more conventional methods she remained committed to the Brill Bend, a manner of jumping which had no name at that time, and which no one had seen before - and which others tried to stop her - consistently - from using. She simply refused to change. At that time it was uniquely hers and she was going to use it despite pressure from those around her to use methods that the sports world was already familiar with and which had identifying labels. And when a fellow named Pete Swensson provided her with some more focussed suggestions, which might be considered a form of coaching, and as her performances started to improve he simply commented that her own unique style was “interesting” and encouraged her to continue. Ultimately, as the heights she was clearing mounted the materials required to cushion her landings required alteration…enter her father, Eugene Brill, who obtained some furniture foam ends and wrapped them in a fishnet, which was subsequently carted from meet to meet. And Debbie, from the age she started jumping at age 13 continued to do so using the same jump style that only after Dick Fosbury’s use of that style became known as the “Fosbury Flop.” But as noted above, that exact style had been used by Debbie Brill since she started jumping at age 13, in 1966. Thus, when Dick Fosbury entered a meet in Vancouver, Canada (at The Empire Stadium) prior to the 1968 Olympics others who were already familiar with that particular jump style because they had seen Debbie use it, would approach Debbie and tell her (usually excited as they were doing so) “Look, he’s using your style.” And most track and field contestants and aficionados in the Vancouver at that time were aware of Debbie’s unique style as she lived in Aldergrove and then Maple Ridge , both small towns just outside of the city of Vancouver. Debbie set a new Indoor World record of 1.99 metres in 1982. She has held the Canadian Women’s High Jump record, apart from a 2 year hiatus when she stopped jumping in 1972 after the disasters of the 1972 Olympics, essentially, since she was 15 years old. She reasserted her ownership of that Canadian record when she started jumping again in 1974. She was the first woman in North America to clear 6 feet at age 16. Debbie is now 69 years old…and she still holds the Canadian Women’s High Jump record which she last established in 1984. So, perhaps when discussions of terminology, competence, and all matters involving athletic performance are concerned, those discussions should not only involve those particular to men, but should, as well, give consideration to the achievements of women - as they were finally - but apparently begrudgingly “allowed” to participate in Olympic athletics. Similarly, those assessments of significance should also give credence😢 to those of interest by the whole world - rather than, as is often too often the case, only those of interest to Americans. Dick Fosbury has been consistently gracious when the issue of just which athlete used the style referred to the “Fosbury Flop” first, in acknowledging the fact the Debbie Brill was using the same technique as he, at least as early as he was. Thank you Dick. As well, if you talk to a Canadian familiar with the evolution of that jumping style you might hear suggestions that Debbie was using it, consistently even before him….particularly if that particular Canadian happens to be her husband…but we’ll leave that discussion for another day 😉😉😉😉.

[@wadopotato33]

Cool story, but I am Canadian and we called it a Fosbury Flop. I competed in High Jump and have never heard your tale. So I am going to say that the usage of Brill Bend is, in the very least, not Universally used in Canada.

[@douglascoleman1252]

Might it not bare recognizing the content of the post, both in terms of how my comments referenced the fact that the accomplishments of women tend to be ignored, and the timeline with respect to who might actually have the been first to use the technique, and that technique only. Ms. Brill’s accomplishments with respect to setting a new indoor world record and with respect to the length of time she has held our national record might, for you, be worth commenting upon. But I certainly respect the fact that you used the term Fosbury Flop for as long as you have jumped. Those from Eastern Canada seem to be more substantially influenced by American practices than those from Western Canada. Just out of curiosity, when did you jump, and what was your best jump?

[@jacobdoyle420]

​@@wadopotato33idiotic comment, guarantee you're not of the age between the gap of debbie and fosburys adoptions of the technique. Stfu

[@roadrunner381]

That name rings a bell, but I didn't know the story behind her technique, I myself was a high jumper back in 1978 1st yr of college, I believe she should get credit for being the originator of that style, at least Mr. Fosbury, did acknowledge her using this style!

[@douglascoleman1252]

@@roadrunner381 Hello...Thank you for your response. I'm sorry I didn't give it more attention, and respond in a more timely fashion. I appreciate Dick Fosbury's acknowledgment of Deb's jump style - and I am aware that Dick has had a bit of difficulty talking more openly about his experiences as a track and field athlete for any number of reasons. Dick's time in the spotlight was quite limited. His achievement of Olympic gold was impressive. He jumped, truly at the top of his game, and from what I can tell he retired immediately thereafter. Deb, on the other hand, had a much different experience as a track and field athlete. I won't go into great detail about her "upbringing" - for lack of a better word, but I think there's a pretty detailed account of it in the article I've referenced, by way of a link posted below. Please feel free to take a look at it. Nonetheless I sometimes get my knickers in a twist when the public is not presented with a more detailed and comprehensive description of Deb's evolution as a jumper and the conditions she had to deal with as a Canadian girl from a small town, with a family who relied upon a very modest income provided by a ferociously dedicated, gentle and loving, father who often had to work away from the family he was devoted to, often for weeks at a time - who was thrust into the international spotlight at a very early age, sometimes under very uncomfortable circumstances. And my apologies for the "run on" sentence... Anyhow - Deb, at the age of 15, was laughed at the first time she used the "Brill Bend" in a track meet in Oslo, several months before the 1968 Olympics. Those in attendance, and others, just thought she was simply "doing it wrong" and that she should be taught how to do it "properly." For a lonely 15 year old girl from Canada, who been jumping that way for over 2 years, either landing hard in sand, or in the netted foam rubber trimmings provided by her father and dragged from meet to meet, was a hard thing to handle. The international audience had never seen that jump style before. They sure as hell became aware of a few months later when Dick won gold and had his name attached to that jump style a few months later...but before that it was known as the "Brill Bend"... and Deb really didn't - and doesn't' care what it is called...provided I get her morning tea to her in a timely fashion - which I have just done 😉😉😉. And thank you for your comments...Ooops...Deb just reminded me that in 1967, at age 14, while jumping either in Victoria or Kelowna, she set an age class world record using that Brill Bend style, landing in that load of foam rubber trimmings her mother carried around with her.... I hope this lengthy "rant" has been informative and entertaining. Let me know if there's more you'd like to chat about... [e-mail] And have a good day...

[@PaulyinParis619]

13:32 that mullet…classic

[@jdouble006]

Sotomayor has now had the record for 31 years and hes had the U18 record for 40 years now

[@Raptorman0909]

The modern technique wouldn't be practical before the advent of padded landing area -- the older techniques were required to be better able to control a landing on your feet. An actual fall from 8 feet onto hard ground would too often result in injury. So, the advent of good padding in the landing area made it less risky to go backwards over the bar. I do think 2.5m is possible and as a reference, that height is comfortably over the average US family home ceiling would be in a typical room.

[@duudsuufd]

I like how Ni Zhiqn at 10:17 is landing in giant french fries.

[@writerjmd]

When I was in high school in the late 60's I had to land on my back on a pile of wet sawdust that sometimes was only a foot higher than the ground. It would knock the wind out of you.

[@wadopotato33]

An "actual fall would too often result in injury" should be rephrased since only one person has every cleared 8 feet...and most competetition rarely get close.

[@writerjmd]

@@wadopotato33 It's not just 8 feet. I used to get hurt high jumping 5"-4" onto sawdust.

[@wadopotato33]

@@writerjmd That does sound like it would hurt. I was vertically challenged, but could jump my height. I felt like that was good, but I also was busy playing basketball, football and hockey. In other words, no time for high jump training. But seeing what is possible is always amazing.

[@c0mpoot3rn3rd]

Great vid on a really cool topic. Not a fan of the cuts to black during the montages but otherwise the editing is really coming along. Keep it up man

[@MarkJohnson-zy4fd]

I am not convinced that the Fosbury flop is inherently superior. It is different and requires a specific set of skills. Yashchenko was a brilliant jumper and athlete. Keep in mind he jumped 2.35 at age 20 FORTY-SIX years ago. Had he not been injured so young, I believe he would have jumped near 2.40. And, had that occurred, the conversation about the “best” technique would be quite different.

[@stevenmckinnon1258]

Very professional, accurate, and stylish content!

[@KitagumaIgen]

Later in the year that Patrik Sjöberg set his 2.42 m record he had a spectacularly good competition in Switzerland (probably Zütich), but when he was to try at 2.43 a thunderstorm passed through the stadium with winds so strong that the mat flew out over the field and into the tracks...

[@pullt]

With Sotomayor clearing the 2.44, 0.05 PB, I've always been interested in these "why the hell not" attempts. Dude is a legend. I wish more athletes today would try as such, even if they'll likely fail.

[@appa609]

The best I've done is 5'7", which was about the same as the best girl high jumper on our team. Difference was my score didn't make it to sectionals and she went to nationals.

[@GIBBO4182]

Nearly 30 years old! All of the jump records (high, long & triple) have stood for decades. We may have reached our peak as a species! 😂

[@wadopotato33]

...Until a Usain Bolt type anomaly arrives.

[@GIBBO4182]

@@wadopotato33 maybe the jumping events have already had theirs…Sotomyor and Edwards’ in particular

[@ghostfacenasir7248]

​@@GIBBO4182 triple jump looks like it has a new anomaly with Hibbert though

[@bobdrago69657]

Could be a lot potentially great high jumpers are doing more $$$ sports like basketball, soccer, baseball and even more glamorous track events like the sprints. I’d love to see a 9’ high jump if humanly possible.

[@hansdekorver7365]

@@wadopotato33 Barshim tried 2.46 ( He almost succeeded ) . So waiting for a new Sotomayor / Barshim.

[@William-Morey-Baker]

I LOVE this series... please, cover all major records. All. Of. Them. thank you. that is all

[@Tavat]

This looks 10x more badass without the landing pads.

[@matehj]

dope channel holy. keep growing brother!

[@TheQuirkyCharacter]

Sadly, we almost never see jumps approaching 2.40, let alone above that height, in major international competitions now. . . Barshim was a hope for a new WR, but now we need to wait for another talent. . .

[@michel_dutch]

Amazing content, keep it up!

[@gongcyclist]

The drama of this video is cool, but it's frustrating that in the montages there is such an emphasis on fast cuts that we don't actually get to appreciate the historical footage at all. A bunch of clips of a run up, and cut to landing and celebration. Could we have just gotten to watch the jumps? I feel like we're not building any real appreciation for the sport if we can't even be patient enough to watch the jumps in real time.

[@jamesclapp6832]

I'm 6-2 and a 24 foot long jumper but could only clear 2.0 meters twice. You have to be fast, strong, and SUPPLE to go any higher.

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Quickness & back flexibility are more important for high-jumpers than a massive vert…although that does help. 🙂

[@undeadfury55]

Congrats on 1k subs!!!!!

[@Zakarias89]

Patrik Sjöbergs 2.42 jump was beautiful. Thank you mr. Fosbury for making Track and Field more good looking.

[@andreasandremyrvold]

By now, breaking Sotomayors record jump would be the holy grail of athletics.

[@VeridicusMaximus]

DT, HT, JT, TJ, LJ, 1500m and the Mile are still going strong on the mens side and are serious/hard WR to break.

[@jacobdoyle420]

​@@VeridicusMaximus1500 and mile are going down soon

[@shatterdpixel]

FUCK YEAH HIGH JUMP WOOOOOOHHH!!!

[@shatterdpixel]

i am a javier sotomayor stan

[@1joob]

@@shatterdpixel Cool

[@h8es19]

I didnt know you made a 2nd channel great stuff!

[@mkdasher6418]

Great video man, Keep it up 👍

[@ItsJustStevesWorld]

Bro. Dick Fosbury went to, and Berny Wagner coached at, Oregon STATE. Not Oregon, which is the common shorthand for the University of Oregon. The ‘OSU’ on the singlet might’ve been a slight giveaway…

[@seilthin7198]

I would absolutely love to see a pole vault world record progression ❤

[@owencamo2]

record held for 30 years, wow

[@siegfriedo]

I think it is worth mentioning, that the women's world record 2.09 m by Stefka Kostadinova from August 1987 still stands. 36 years...

[@daxmoney5011]

14:16 the greatest of all time

[@therwfer]

Great video, very entertaining and well made! Also loved all the historical footage. I guess somebody has to find a new exploit, strat finders do your thing! Maybe we can learn something from TASers.

[@writerjmd]

Charley Dumas is doing the Straddle, not the Western Roll.

[@PineappleSquuid]

These videos are gold mines. What do you use to record your voiceover?

[@calumramsaybrown]

Really entertaining, interesting and impressive how much old footage you found ! 👏 Are you inspired by summoning salts video style by any chance ?

[@TimTim-cv4mw]

Can you do long jump video?

[@siegfriedo]

Yep, that would be awesome.

[@niklasmitfussl2639]

Great vid!

[@robertherrera6852]

6’4” freshman jumper here! Del Oro high 94’! Eye of the Tiger baby!

[@meziane7209]

Yo i am not into this kind of stuff but i rly like ur story telling, so i wanted to ask you are you the ytbr etienne who makes vids abt rhythm games?

[@jdouble006]

What year did the high jump surpass your height. Mine was 1912

[@4Flavien4]

but then, fosbury got... this run

[@parkerfleischman1852]

Will you Do a progression video on pole vaulting?

[@siegfriedo]

Sergei Bubka FTW 💪👍

[@deklore]

0:42 i think you mean the Highland Games and not the Highlander Games LOL

[@1wor1d]

13:32 A high flying record breaking Euro MULLET!!

[@paulallan2941]

Povarnitsyn went into his 2.40 record breaking competition with a personal best of only 2.26 !!!!

[@finnontrack]

Finally!!!

[@jameseastwood3847]

Pretty sure some of the soft focus background visuals were of the long jump.

[@mccusker3811]

in college it was at oregon state beavers not duck

[@shsb2355]

In 8:20 why did you say western flop when it’s the western roll?

[@liamofam1]

another banger

[@agarvan]

High jump is a metric event

[@squirrels24seven]

It's imperial

[@therealnathnath154]

with the last name Stepanov you should be able to jump high. I mean, who else be steppin off that hard

[@stevenlarratt3638]

Highlander games... erm its the higland games. Would like to see that film though...

[@stoutlager6325]

2.20+ with the straddle is just madness.

[@josephgamzo2908]

Wish u included their heights and weights

[@gillboardman8998]

Fosbury went to Oregon STATE, not Oregon.👍

[@nealramsey4439]

Events like high jump and others gets great athletes but you have to figure that done that would've dominated it went into other sports. It's the same for the UFC. Imagine if the Shaqs and other athletes went into mma.

[@Amtcboy]

A big factor not mentioned is the athlete height.

[@paysonfox88]

2:11-- Donald Dinni should not be underestimated. That man did a feat of strength which is still impressive today. He lifted two stones across a bridge, carrying one in each hand with a ring attached for handles.... The stones weigh the combined 770 lb. I do not doubt that a guy with such back and leg strength could jump that high.

[@davambs]

I have also carried two stones weighing 770lbs across a bridge with a rings attached for handles. Not that impressive.

[@Artem_Petrov_RUS]

>19:04 Valeriy Brumel >URS ?

[@stevenlarratt3638]

Paused as wife came home, sat back down pressed play to be greeted by John Thomas...

[@JTA1961]

He could almost see Florida from up there

[@donna25871]

RIP Dick Fosbury.

[@kurtwoehrman3335]

Barshim could be next

[@Bluemax54]

Steroid impacted rcord?

[@6reat676]

Bro is the mrekk of high jump

[@anthonyhardt1994]

Fosbury--Oregon State, not Oregon.

[@Lorijenken]

In high school through 1996-1999 everyone used Fosbury Flop, I never saw the others used ever.

[@jacobdoyle420]

Yeah we watched the video lol. Duh

[@nekollama3994]

Here before the speedrunning community finds this video

[@weevie833]

That choppy blinky editing doesn't work. Great story though,

[@szymon6207]

Have 2.46m go to indoor ?

[@avohill4]

Interesting word, "Beet'n"

[@baguetteetcheese4665]

Get a high jumping massai man and train him with the flop technique. Easy new world record

[@marcelseifert9791]

I clearly remember a 2,14m tall Chinese jumping 2,48m.Probably thats the Mandela effect!?

[@hansdekorver7365]

2.48 ???

[@By_Rant_Or_Ruin]

" Un - bee - ehn'? Oy.

[@FenceThis]

I could’ve held the shared world record in 1876…

[@Michael_Schmatzberger]

would love to see female wr porgression alongside in these videos...

[@thepooey]

Boring

[@djxcel23]

No one is breaking that high jump record.

[@skepticguy8493]

Nicely produced and informative. But for a bunch of us Americans, meters still don’t make it. Could you please still put the feet and inches next to the metric equivalent?

[@davidj8658]

Why that horrible pulsing noise ?

[@HK_BLAU]

i love how the video is well paced all the way till the outro and then you start talking at 1.5x speed

[@roccococolombo2044]

Désolé mais le montage est horrible. Par contre le contenu est super.

[@deepcosmiclove]

Jim Jeffries, Heavyweight Boxing Champ (1899-1905) could high jump 6 feet. Only Jack Johnson ever wanted to fight him.

[@Mazer19944]

for the love of christ why do you cut the jumps so fast. Just show them completely and stop cutting at the most important parts. I had to stop after 7 minutes because I got so frustrated to never see the jump fully

[@xyzzyx7812]

dude stop giving viewers epilepsy

[@writerjmd]

They weren't jumping in meters, so there's no need to give silly meter measurements

[@easyliving111]

Der Schnitt ist zum 🤢🤮

[@tylercooper1551]

You pronounce things funny lol. You say moderen, westeren, instead of modern and western. Not poking fun, I promise

[@hansdekorver7365]

Barshim jumped over 2.46 , but the bar did not stay down.

[@writerjmd]

See how all those Cubans cheered? It was because he broke 8 FEET, not because he changed the second decimal in the meters measurement. Meters is a clunky measurement for high jump, whereas we can all relate to feet and inches because we all know how tall we are.

[@VeridicusMaximus]

Makes no sense. Those who relate their height to meters also know. Cuba uses the metric system officially. Why would using quarters, eighths, etc. be better than tenths or hundredths? We don't ever say 1.38 feet because you would not know what the hell that means when you divide up a foot into 12 parts. LAME!

[@writerjmd]

@@VeridicusMaximus You measure your child in meters?

[@VeridicusMaximus]

@@writerjmd Irrelevant! The point is that people in Cuba and elsewhere do!!

[@writerjmd]

@@VeridicusMaximus no point in arguing. People today can't do math. Feet they understand....decimal meters they dont

[@VeridicusMaximus]

@@writerjmd The metric system is used by more people than not - so they DO understand and CAN. Using a system based on 10 is way easier.

[@davidbowman4259]

All hail the GOAT, Javier Sotomayor.

[@jjayyoung7335]

It Seems as the jump's going track-and-field we have reached our limits when was the last record set Mike Powell or Jonathan Edwards in the long jump and the triple jump in the 90s. Javier sota mayor set his jump in at the same time frame. It seems The Times in the jumps in tracking field across-the-board have been in quite a slump in the last 20 years just look at the mile. Or the men's 1500 m the women's 800 m

[@hansdekorver7365]

We are reaching our limits.