High Jump for Women at Olympics

High Jump for Women at Olympics: High jump is a field event, which involves jumping over a horizontal bar unaided by any other device. The horizontal bar is set at a certain height at the starting of the competition. The jumping technique has been consistently changing since the time of its advent. The athletes, who have good command over fitness and speed, can succeed in the event. Women contested in the high jump competition for the first time in 1895.

High Jump for Women in Summer Olympics:The high jump was included in the women's field athletics program at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games. Since then, the event has been a regular part of the Olympic schedule.

Rules for High Jump for Women at Olympics: The International Association of Athletics Federations or IAAF is authorized to set rules for track and field athletics events. The rules vital for high jump at the international level are-

The weight of the crossbar used during the high jump competition is specified by the IAAF. Generally the bar is made of fibre-glass.

The initial height of the horizontal bar, with which the jump has to be started, is determined by the IAAF authorized organizing committee of the competition.

The horizontal bar has to be raised at a minimum height of 2 centimeter at every stage.

The minimum length of the runway in the high jump event has to be 15 meter. However, in some competitions, 20 meter or 25 meter long runway is also used.

The length and breadth of the landing area in the high jump event has been specified by the IAAF.

The jumps taken by the athletes should be should be measured perpendicularly from the ground.

An athlete is given three chances to clear any height. If an athlete misses in all the attempts, she is disqualified from the event.

The horizontal bar has to remain in its position even after the jump is taken by the athlete. If the bar is dislodged from its place, the athlete is liable to be disqualified from the competition.

Medal Winners in the High Jump for Women: Some of the leading figures in the field of high jump at the international level are Venelina Veneva, Silvia Costa, Inha Babakova, Heike Henkel, Tamara Bykova, Yelena Slesarenko, Hestrie Cloete, Kajsa Bergqvist, Lyudmila Andonova, Stefka Kostadinova, Marina Kuptsova, Monica Iagar, Anna Chicherova, Alina Astafei, Blanka Vlasic, Yelena Yelesina, Louise Ritter, Ulrike Meyfarth, Sara Simeoni, Rosemarie Ackermann, Miloslava Rezkova, Iolanda Balas, Mildred McDaniel, Esther Brand, Alice Coachman, Ibolya Csak, Jean Shiley and Ethel Catherwood.

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