style of high jumping crossword clue – All Crossword Answers

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Solutions for "style of high jumping crossword clue" by Letter Count

11 Letters

FOSBURYFLOP: A high jump technique where the athlete goes over the bar head-first and back-first. This style revolutionized the sport after Dick Fosbury used it to win gold at the 1968 Olympics.

8 Letters

STRADDLE: An older high jump technique where the athlete faces down, straddling the bar, and rolls over it. This was the dominant style before the Fosbury Flop.

SCISSORS: One of the earliest high jump styles, where the athlete lifts one leg and then the other over the bar, similar to stepping over it. It's less efficient for high jumps but easy to learn.

More About "style of high jumping crossword clue"

The high jump has seen several fascinating evolutions in technique, reflecting athletes' continuous quest for greater height. The "Fosbury Flop" is arguably the most famous due to its immediate and widespread impact on the sport. Developed by Dick Fosbury, this style involves the jumper running in an arc, launching off the outside foot, and going over the bar head first with their back to the bar. Its counter-intuitive approach was initially met with skepticism but quickly proved superior to previous methods.

Before the Flop, the "Straddle" and "Western Roll" were popular, where athletes typically went over the bar face down. Even earlier, the simple "Scissors" or "Eastern Cut-off" styles were used, resembling a step-over motion. Crossword setters often use these historical terms to add complexity to their puzzles, testing solvers' knowledge beyond just the most current or dominant techniques. Understanding these different styles is key to tackling such clues effectively.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fosbury Flop?

The Fosbury Flop is a high jump technique where the athlete goes over the bar head-first with their back facing the bar. It was popularized by Dick Fosbury and became the standard technique in competitive high jumping.

Why is the "style of high jumping" clue so common in crosswords?

It's common because the evolution of high jump styles, particularly the revolutionary Fosbury Flop, offers specific, well-known terms of varying lengths that are perfect for crossword grids. It tests general knowledge and sports history.

How do I differentiate between STRADDLE and SCISSORS in a crossword?

Both are 8 letters. Differentiation usually comes from the specific phrasing of the clue or intersecting letters. STRADDLE often refers to a more competitive, but pre-Fosbury, technique, while SCISSORS is one of the earliest and simplest methods, sometimes described as 'stepping over' the bar.