Silver medallist at the Asian and Commonwealth Games Murali Sreeshankar said that World Athletics’ attempt to reduce fouls in long jump by replacing the current take-off board will eliminate the sport’s uniqueness and beauty.
The CEO of World Athletics, Jon Ridgeon, had stated earlier this week that the takeoff zone’s goal is to minimize the amount of time that jumpers waste by overstepping.
Ridgeon stated on the Anything But Footy podcast that “a third of all the jumps at the World Championships in Budapest last summer were no-jumps, athletes stepping over the front of the take-off board.” “That is ineffective and a waste of time. Instead of using a take-off board, for instance, we’re testing a take-off zone, so we measure from the athlete’s takeoff to their pit landing. Thus, each and every jump matters. said Ridgeon.
While jumpers would benefit from the take-off zone because they no longer have to worry about fouls by getting as close to the take-off line as possible, Sreeshankar claimed World Athletics was “questioning the skill” of long jumpers.
“It will have an impact on the sport’s beauty. It also casts doubt on athletes’ abilities. Since long jumping is a technical event, accuracy on the take-off board is crucial. Although the goal of this intervention is to increase spectator interest in the sport, it is having an impact on the sport’s novelty. The main idea behind long jumping is to launch yourself ahead of a predetermined line; we have been doing this since the beginning of our training. You’re telling me now that I can jump from anywhere in the zone, and we’ll measure it.
Four gold medals from four Olympics later, retired American athlete Carl Lewis voiced his strong opposition to the proposed rule change.
The American wrote on X, “April Fools jokes are meant to be saved for April 1st.” “I suppose it confirms what I’ve been saying, which is that the longest event in track and field is the hardest. That would simply remove the trickiest skill from the competition. Simply put, since so many people miss free throws, enlarge the basket.
Unresolved problem
According to Sreeshankar, there is still a problem with the take-off board that needs to be resolved because the material used to make it is slick and can cause accidents.
Administrators were also advised not to use the material in the proposed take-off zone by the 24-year-old.
“There needs to be one more clarification. We will undoubtedly slip if they create a take-off zone, spread out some material there, and use the same material for the take-off board. It will happen exactly like in Tom and Jerry, where Tom steps on the banana peel and falls facefirst.
He uses Carey McLeod of Jamaica as an example, who slipped during takeoff and hurt his ankle at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.
“The take-off board is the problem. Everyone was slipping due to the take-off board’s material. Since its introduction following the 2021 Olympics, it has drawn criticism from all quarters. Without a doubt, it’s not wood. Sreeshankar stated, “We wanted the take-off board’s material to be changed.
Athletes who commit fouls run the risk of suffering an injury.
“If we foul, we slip; if we are not fouling, we have less chance of slipping because part of our foot will be on the synthetic surface; however, if our foot is entirely on the takeoff board, we will slip. It doesn’t make sense. Fortunately, Jeswin (Aldrin) did not sustain any serious injuries from his slip during the World Championships the previous year, according to Sreeshankar.
The Indian jumper stated that Jules Pommery, a friend of Sreeshankar from France and the third-place finisher at the European Championships, had slipped “three-four times” due to the board and hurt his ankle.
“It is the athlete’s duty to avoid foul play. Nonetheless, it would be preferable if the take-off board’s material were changed for athletes’ safety.
Should multi-event disciplines be the only ones permitted in the take-off zone?
Tejaswin Shankar, a silver medallist in the decathlon at the Asian Games and a high jumper, shared something on X. “Although I’m not a big fan of the new change in question for LJ, it’s one less event to worry about from the perspective of multiple events, which is always overlooked!”
“I don’t think jumpers will agree to the change for the individual long jump,” Sreeshankar remarked, “but maybe for combined events athletes who have 10 events… they can get through their jumps without fouling.”
