It has always been one of the most popular events in the Olympics and one of the very core disciplines that dates back to the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece. For over 70 years in the modertn era the high jump remained unaltered with athletes executing a scissors jump to cleat the horizontal. That was until American Dick Fosbury revolutionised the sport with his ‘Fosbury Flop’, backwards bendy jump, a technique that is still used today.
The Men’s High Jump in London which takes place on the 7th of August at 19.00 (GMT) will be a very open competition. Four years ago Andrey Silnov of Russia took the gold medal and with a very strong athletics team this year the Russians will rightly feel that this is one event were they should come away with at least a silver and maybe more with Ivan Ukhov and Aleksey Dmitrik also hitting excellent form at just the right time.
Andrey
Silnov of Russia
If you’re a fan of everything eighties, you may be in for a treat with a Cold War rerun as the Russians go head to head with the Americans – world number one Jesse Williams along with Jamie Nieto and Erik Kynard Jr. Williams was included in the US team under controversial cirumstances finishing in only fourth place at the US trials. His world championshiop gold, however ws enough to secure his plane ticket to London for the big one.
Jesse
Williams
These are the stand out contenders but expert any one of the chasing pack to make the podium. Trevor Barry of the Bahamas, Dmitrios Hondrokoukis of Greece recently won gold at the world indoor championships in Istanbul. Qatari national Mutaz Essa Barshim is the best of Asia while Jaroslav Baba from the Czech Republic will be Europe’s main contender.
Ivan
Ukhov of Russia
By Hugo Mc Cafferty
Post a comment
To leave a comment sign in to MySwide, or use your Facebook account: