In reply to: I disagree that it should be measured from wherever the posted by kellykapowski
And both can jump the 9 ft gap with a foot to spare but one jumps 2 feet early - you do the math breh. It’s a functional event that’s why there’s an edge. Same thing with high jump. It’s supposed to replicate a challenge in real life.
You rightly explain why this event is different from other events and so is possible to change the rules to accomplish what you perceive as the chief objective.
Sure the technique has been part of the sport because that's the only fair way of measuring it. But working an umpire or ref is part of a lot of sports. And I appreciate that. But in the end, I just want the call to match what the player did. I would have no issue using technology to measure the furthest jump. There's still plenty of room for technique.
However, faults do make for better television. You know exactly when they'll take off. There is drama in seeing if they'll fault as they're trying to push the envelope. There are still good reasons for wanting it. But I agree doesn't best accomplish the objective of seeing how far someone can jump. If the event were created today (HA! It would never be created today if it didn't already exist) I would guess they would just give a range from which you need to lift off and they would use the technology to measure.
These athletes practice days and years on end to become Olympians, how come they haven't perfected a starting run that has them leaping off the block in the correct spot each time?
Also, how does one start doing the triple jump?
would you Andy, but you are dead wrong.