Athletics (British Sports Library)

THE LONG JUMP 193 He can draw the right leg up to the left, so that he appears to sit in the air, as shown in Sketch 3, at the top of the high rise, due to the strong forward tendency imparted by the take-off. In this position he will sail through the air until he shoots out the feet for the landing, a trick which will gain him from 9 to 18 inches of distance, if properly carried out as shown in Sketches 5, 6, and 7. From the position shown in Sketch 2 the athlete has the alternative of another, and perhaps better, mid-air body movement, which is, however, far harder to master. This is what the Americans call the " hitch-kick." It consists of taking a step in mid air (Sketch 4), and at the same time jerking the body upwards. Legendre used this method when he broke world's record, but I noticed on that occasion that he added to the movement a steep backward body lean and a wonderful subsequent whip-up of the trunk from the waist as the kick, or step, was made. Some jumpers commence the kick by working the arms and legs vigorously after the initial leg swing up– wards from the take-off, others delay it until they have reached the top of their rise. Sketch 4 shows William Bjorneman, Sweden, who holds the Scandinavian record of 24 feet 3 inches, just about to commence the hitch-kick. In either case the ultimate landing is effected in 13