At one time, there was competition in the
long jump with weights. I don't know how heavy the weights were. And I am not
sure what the records were. But, the records were much farther than the current
unofficial world record of 8.95 m. (29' 4 1/2"). Return to my Physics pages
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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
At one time, there was competition in the
long jump with weights. I don't know how heavy the weights were. And I am not
sure what the records were. But, the records were much farther than the current
unofficial world record of 8.95 m. (29' 4 1/2").
I think it was ESPN which ran a show, saying that weights cannot help very much. On the show, they jumped with weights, holding the weights in front at liftoff, and swinging them to the rear, dropping them upon landing (second picture on the left). The weights affected the center of gravity of the jumper quite a bit. And he got about an extra foot of distance. And they judged that you cannot get significant extra distance with weights.
They goofed. By throwing the weights backward (the third picture), on liftoff, you can get tremendously increased distance. Ask any physicist. And if a jumper is very light, and has great arm strength, he/she should have an advantage.