Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

THE RUNNING LONG-JUMP 83 spotted Bricker's weakness, and with careful coaching soon had him doing well over 24 feet-indeed, at one time it was thought that Bricker would establish a new W odd's Record in this event. The Canadian • team arrived at Stockholm. All went well, and day by day Bricker improved until one day he tried a practice jump in the Stadium. Unfortunately he did not allow for the difference between the path there and the one in the Idrotsplatz, where the Canadian team were training; consequently he overstepped the board and strained himself badly, and had to be taken to his quarters in a cab. With the greatest difficulty he was got into something like jumping form by the day of the competition, when he got second to Abel Gutterson, U.S.A., with a leap of 23ft. 8 in.; but every step was an agony, and doubtless he would have done better but for this unfortunate accident, which just shows that even the best of us cannot afford to neglect details. Besides getting the distance of the run-up correct, the athlete, during his training, should carefully observe the track of his feet on the path to see that he is running smoothly, and not "galloping" along with uneven strides; it is absolutely necessary that the run through from beginning to end should be smooth, culminating in a clean spring from the board without pause or any break in the rhythm of movement. The last stride must be a short one, so that the jumping leg may be well gathered under the body for the spring. This accounts for the run-up, which must be most assiduously practised. As in the running high-jump, it is advisable for the athlete during the training to jump "all out" very seldom, for by so doing he will be sacrificing style to