Best spectator sports

[Jolly]

@taiwan_girl said in Best spectator sports:

Ive noticed that long jumpers always seem to hop at the beginning of their run for the first few steps before starting to run fast. I wonder why that is vs. just start running?

Timing.

[89th]

Yeah, especially for long jumpers they have to hit that mark perfectly (I think it's like 83 feet 7 inches) so it's a timing/routine thing. I remember doing (and failing) pole vaulting in high school and it's remarkable how many small techniques are needed to result in a perfect jump. Over time, it becomes muscle memory.

For high jumpers, not that anyone asked... it's interesting. The lean back move before they start running is part-routine, and part stretch to maximize the pliability of the body. Further, and more interestingly, they run in a curved line to maximize the efficiency of converting their running/horizontal momentum into the jump momentum... it's very mathematical, I wonder if there's a good youtube video that visualizes the efficiency of running in a curved line vs directly at it (or directly parallel to it), or maybe it's just common sense.

[jon-nyc]

I’m old enough to remember when the Fosbury Flop was innovative.

[89th]

Enough about your college escapades!

[Tom-K]

Woman's pole vault!

[Jolly]

NIL, baby!

Can't compete without make-up!

[Horace]

Link to video

[Renauda]

Okay and then what?

[Horace]

This Chinese hurdler leans into her look, and I support that.

Link to video

[Horace]

This is very cool. That confidence is neat to watch. And how she knows she has the lift long before she stands up with it. I guess the risky part is getting it overhead with her elbows locked.

Link to video

[jon-nyc]

I’d like to see her record-breaking snatch in person.