Athletics and Football (extract)

Hall over. matter of fact the high-jumper is nearlyalways short-thighed, with a well-shaped knee, a rather long leg from knee to ankle, and with an ankle, like the knee, cleanlyand delicatelyshaped. It is always said, and with some show of truth, that a high- jumper is fanciful and uncertain. The reason is easy to see, for not only will a touch of cold or stiffness in the joints spoil a man's form, but the greatest possible differenceis made by 140 ATHLETICS are contracted, and from the sudden and violent straightening of the leg with a jerk, the impetus is given. A high-jumper, therefore,must have these muscles not onlystrong but naturally springyand elastic,and from this it follows that in a certain sense the high-jumper,like the sprinter, is born, not made ; for though muscles can be hardened and strengthened by practice, nothing but nature can make them elastic. As a