Scientific Secrets of the Olympic High Jump

The high jump is an incredible event. But to win gold, the athletes will have to do more than just jump high. They’ll have to use a lot of science to get the very highest jump possible.

Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) clearing the bar in 2022.
Credit: nicolaolyslagers.com

The run-up matters!

You might think high jumping is all about, well, jumping. But it actually starts way before that!

Our muscles aren’t powerful enough to jump super high, so they need a lot of help. This starts wit the run up. As the athletes run towards the bar, they build up “kinetic energy”, which is the energy of movement.

The faster they run, the more energy they get, which should mean they can jump higher.

But it's not that simple! If they run too fast, their legs might not be able to handle all that force when they jump. It's kind of like when you jump off something high and your legs feel wobbly on landing.

So, the best high jumpers aren't just the ones who can jump the highest. They're the ones who can run really fast but still keep control when they jump. It's all about finding that perfect balance!

Nicola Olyslagers jumps 2.00 metres in Paris, 2023. The fast, curved run-up gives her the energy needed to jump high.
Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=qzvtJ3jWb1g

The Curve: It's Not Just for Show

Have you ever wondered why high jumpers run in a curve instead of straight at the bar?

The curve helps position their body at just the right angle for take-off. It also gives them a bit of spin, which helps them clear the bar later in the jump. Each jumper will use a slightly different curve when they run – they’ve spent years trying to figure out the very best curve to jump their very highest.

From Running to Jumping

Now, here's where it gets really interesting. When the jumpers plant their foot to jump, they're doing something amazing - they're turning their forward motion into upward motion. All that run-up energy gets changed into jump energy. Their legs are energy converters!

The best jumpers make this look easy, but it's super hard. They have to channel all that energy from running into their jump while losing as little of it as possible. Years of practice and a lot of special training goes into making this look effortless!

Defying Gravity Mid-Air Acrobatics

But here's the mind-blowing part: No woman can actually jump 2 meters straight up in the air, even with the best run-up in the world. But the world record for high jump is 2.10 meters!

How is that possible?

The secret is in the way they move their bodies over the bar. They twist and turn to keep as much of their body below the bar as possible while pushing the important bits (like their hips) as high as they can.

It's a bit like when you're trying to reach something high - your feet stay on the ground, but you can reach higher by stretching one arm up and the other down for balance. High jumpers do this, but way more extreme and in mid-air!

When you watch the competition, look closely at how the jumpers move over the bar. They'll throw their head back to get their chest over, then quickly drop their chest and fling their legs up to clear the bar. It's like a super-fast, airborne wave!

Nicola Olyslagers twisting her body to clear the bar. Notice most of her body is below the bar at any one time – the only part that needs to be higher is the part passing over it!
Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=qzvtJ3jWb1g

Who to look for at the Paris Olympics

Australia has two amazing athletes to cheer for in this event. Nicola Olyslagers won a silver medal at the last Olympics and is the current world indoor champion. Eleanor Patterson is a world champion too! But they'll be up against tough competition, including Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine, who recently set a new world record of 2.10 meters!

The Science of Winning

As the bar gets higher and higher, the jumpers who win will be the ones who can do all of these things perfectly, over and over again:

1. Run at just the right speed

2. Turn that running energy into jumping energy

3. Move their bodies in the air with split-second timing to get over the bar

It's not just about who's the strongest or who can jump the highest. It's about who understands and uses the laws of physics the best!

So, when you're watching the high jump final on Sunday night, remember you're not just seeing an awesome sporting event. You're watching science in action!

Who knows? Maybe watching these incredible athletes will inspire you to learn more about physics - or even become a high jumper yourself one day!

After all, every Olympic champion started out as a kid with a big dream, just like you!