Page "High jump" Paragraph 56

The first recorded high jump event took place in Scotland in the 19th century.

Early jumpers used either an elaborate straight-on approach or a scissors technique.

In the latter, the bar was approached diagonally, and the jumper threw first the inside leg and then the other over the bar in a scissoring motion.

Around the turn of the 20th century, techniques began to modernise, starting with the Irish-American Michael Sweeney's Eastern cut-off.

By taking off like the scissors, but extending his back and flattening out over the bar, Sweeney achieved a more economic clearance and raised the world record to in 1895.