In the early 1960s, a young athlete named Dick Fosbury embarked on a journey that would forever change the world of high jumping. Despite trying his hand at various sports, Fosbury struggled to excel until he discovered his passion for the high jump at the age of 16. However, faced with fierce competition at his college, Fosbury realized that the conventional high jump techniques of the time were not working in his favor. This realization led him to innovate a new method: jumping backwards.
Instead of approaching the bar face-first and using the traditional straddle method, Fosbury turned his back to the bar. This unconventional technique allowed him to improve his personal record by over half a foot, leaving his coaches astounded by this novel approach. Over the next few years, Fosbury honed his technique, ultimately winning the U.S. National trials and securing his place in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
At the 1968 Olympic Games, Fosbury captivated the world with his innovative technique, clinching a gold medal with an Olympic record leap of 2.24 meters. By the subsequent Olympic Games, the majority of high jumpers had adopted what became known as the Fosbury Flop, revolutionizing the sport.
The secret to the Fosbury Flop lies in the concept of the center of mass. For any object, the center of mass is the average position of all its mass, determined by how the mass is distributed. For instance, in a flat, rectangular object of uniform density, the center of mass is located at the intersection of its diagonals.
Humans also have a center of mass, typically around the belly when standing. However, this center shifts with body movements, such as raising arms or bending forward. Interestingly, the center of mass can even be located outside the body, as seen in objects like doughnuts or boomerangs.
During a high jump, the athlete runs swiftly to convert horizontal velocity into vertical lift. As the jumper bends backward over the bar, the center of mass remains below the bar. This is the key to the Fosbury Flop’s success. Unlike previous techniques that required the jumper to lift their center of mass above the bar, the Fosbury Flop allows the athlete to clear the bar while the center of mass stays lower.
This ingenious method enables jumpers to apply the same force but achieve greater heights. By separating the body from the center of mass, the Fosbury Flop provides the extra clearance needed to surpass higher bars. Fosbury’s technique not only elevated the high jump to new heights but also marked a significant leap forward in sports history, achieved by a leap backward.
Gather some soft mats and a low bar or rope that you can safely jump over. Try to mimic the Fosbury Flop technique by running towards the bar and jumping backward over it. Pay attention to how your body moves and where your center of mass feels like it is. Discuss with your classmates how this technique feels different from jumping forward.
Using a ruler, a piece of cardboard, and some clay, create different shapes and try to find their center of mass. Balance each shape on your finger or a pencil to locate the point where it stays level. Compare how the center of mass changes with different shapes and discuss how this concept applies to the Fosbury Flop.
Watch slow-motion videos of high jumpers using the Fosbury Flop technique. Analyze the videos to see how the athletes’ center of mass moves during the jump. Create a diagram that shows the path of the center of mass and how it stays below the bar while the jumper clears it.
Think about other sports or activities where a new technique could make a big difference. Design and describe your own innovative technique for a sport of your choice. Explain how your technique changes the way the sport is played and how it could give athletes an advantage, similar to the Fosbury Flop in high jumping.
Research other sports innovations that have had a significant impact, like the Fosbury Flop. Prepare a short presentation or write an essay about one such innovation, explaining how it changed the sport and why it was important. Share your findings with the class and discuss how innovation drives progress in sports.
fosbury – The Fosbury Flop is a high jump technique where the athlete jumps over the bar backward, arching their back. – The Fosbury Flop helped many athletes clear higher bars in the high jump event.
flop – A flop refers to a style of jumping in which the athlete falls backward over a bar during a high jump. – During the competition, she executed a perfect flop and cleared the height with ease.
jump – A jump is an action where an athlete pushes off the ground with their legs to gain height or distance. – He practiced his jump every day to improve his performance in the long jump event.
technique – Technique refers to the specific method or skill used to perform a physical activity effectively. – Learning the right technique is crucial for athletes to succeed in their sports.
center – The center is the middle point of an object or area, often used to describe balance in sports. – The gymnast found her center before attempting her routine on the balance beam.
mass – Mass is the amount of matter in an object, which affects how it moves and interacts with forces. – The coach explained how an athlete’s mass can influence their speed and jumping ability.
velocity – Velocity is the speed of an object in a specific direction. – The runner increased her velocity as she approached the finish line.
height – Height refers to the measurement of how tall something is, often important in sports like high jump. – He was excited to see how much height he could achieve with his new jumping technique.
athlete – An athlete is a person who is trained or skilled in sports and physical exercises. – The athlete trained hard every day to prepare for the upcoming championships.
olympics – The Olympics is a major international sports event where athletes from around the world compete in various sports. – She dreamed of representing her country at the Olympics one day.
