That is our third article on the Lengthy Leap controversy. Mike Rowbottom, Deji Ogeyingbo and now, Stuart Weir have opened the dialog on how we should always change the game, if we should always change the game, and who we should always take heed to as we take into account altering the game.
Altering the format of the lengthy – and some different occasions
World Athletics has introduced a plan to vary the format of the lengthy soar in order that there could be no fouls with each soar counting and being measured from take-off to touchdown. CEO of World Athletics, Jon Ridgeon, mentioned that they wanted to make each soar rely and “add to the jeopardy and the drama of the competitors.” Ridgeon advised the Something However Footy podcast {that a} third of all jumps on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest didn’t rely, including: “That doesn’t work; that may be a waste of time.”
The proposal was nearly universally criticized. Carl Lewis, winner of 4 consecutive Olympic golds within the lengthy soar, wrote on X: “You’re supposed to attend till April 1st for April Fools’ jokes.” Lewis’s extra severe response was that working at full velocity and taking off from a small board was a extremely expert operation and that the brand new proposal would dilute the talent concerned within the lengthy soar.
Jazmin Sawyers posted a video on social media, saying: “I don’t suppose there’s something fallacious with the lengthy soar, and having the board is a part of the drama. I admire that they’re making an attempt to do one thing, however that is how I view it. I don’t suppose this explicit innovation is a good suggestion. I don’t suppose that is what the lengthy soar wants.”
Within the build-up to the World Indoor Athletics Championships, there have been press factors with a number of British athletes who had been invited to touch upon the proposal and different potential modifications to our sport. Some fascinating views had been expressed.
Josh Kerr
“I most likely can’t converse particularly on the lengthy soar aspect of issues as a result of I clearly don’t have a leg to face on there, however I get what they’re making an attempt to They’re making an attempt to maintain engagement and guarantee certain that one of the best jumpers within the worldjust measured throughout the board so that individuals can get enthusiastic about how theyeople can soar. And so, from the standpoint of a 1500-meter runner, I can perceive the place World Athletics is coming from. We need to hold engagement and guarantee individuals are excited concerning the sport. And possibly folks don’t clearly love the thought, however I really like that they’re fascinated by these issues.
“I like a few of the modifications that the oldsters at World Athletics have made when it comes to qualifying, so not having the quickest losers or no matter these spots are supposed to be known as now and never having these has actually helped clarify issues to a few of my members of the family and I feel truly it’s labored very well on the World Championships. And, possibly having this further spherical on the Olympics may be a bit complicated, particularly the identify of it, the repechage, or no matter it’s known as. We’re making an attempt new issues, they usually hold it thrilling, and I feel you possibly can attempt issues, and if it doesn’t work, you possibly can pull them away like I benefit from the side of a sport that likes to develop what they’ve and attempt to hold folks engaged. So, possibly they don’t hit it each time, however I feel it’s a wonderful concept that they’re making an attempt to experiment with issues to make sure that the followers are engaged”.
Molly Caudery
“It’s an fascinating one. I used to be speaking to Jaz [Sawyers] about it a bit bit, and I don’t suppose I agree with it. If they’re to do it, it’s nearly a totally completely different occasion. It modifications the game as a result of a part of it’s getting your run upright on the lengthy soar runway. They usually’re speaking concerning the floor, and there are such a lot of cons and solely only a few execs. So if I may have my alternative, I wouldn’t change something.
“I additionally suppose the pole vault proper now’s good. I feel it’s such a technical sport, and that’s an enormous a part of it. In the event that they mentioned, ‘Oh, don’t fear concerning the bar, and it’s nearly how excessive you go I feel it might take away lots of the thrill of watching the competitors as a result of what folks get pleasure from is athletes battling it out with spectators questioning, ‘are they gonna make it on their third try?’ It’s an actual technical side when you perceive and luxuriate in pole vaulting. I do suppose it may positively take away from the game”.
Morgan Lake
“I feel they tried to vary the excessive soar a bit, possibly three or 4 years in the past. We get a minute to leap, after which with fewer folks, there’s two minutes, and you then get 3 minutes to leap. I feel they tried to vary that to 30 seconds only for TV time and to make it a faster occasion. It pulled the occasion as a result of it ended up with folks making extra makes an attempt on the bar. So, beforehand, they’d get it with their first try. They’re getting on their third try, as they’re being rushed. So that they tried to innovate that method however simply removed it.
“I’ve been fascinated by it: what change would make a distinction? Clearly, lengthy jumpers now have a take-off zone, which is actually a take-off zone. We are able to take off from anyplace, and effectively, they may change it and provides us a small field to leap from, so it’s important to take off this removed from the bar. At current, Barshim jumps miles away from the bar. Others soar from tremendous shut. There’s nothing that might make it higher. Clearly, issues can change it, and I suppose the primary factor for the lengthy soar is to make it extra thrilling so folks can get these longer jumps into the sand. However within the excessive soar, I don’t actually suppose something’s actually going to vary that.
“I feel the one factor for me is watching excessive soar competitions. Let’s say I’m watching a males’s competitors; the one unfavorable is the size of time. With observe occasions, they’re fast and over and achieved with. So possibly having greater intervals, as an alternative of 1.82, 1.85, simply going 1.80, 1.85, 1.90 to get to these larger heights faster. Some issues may be achieved to vary it. However, I wouldn’t say it’s on the forefront of my thoughts, pondering ‘oh, that is boring. We’d like a solution to make it extra thrilling. I’m biased, however I’ll discover subject occasions thrilling anyway”.
Are you listening, World Athletics?
