High Jump: Top Performances of All-Time (and training video!)

Ah, the high jump. It really is my favorite event to coach and watch.  Don’t get me wrong, I love coaching sprints, hurdles and the horizontal jumps, as well as everyday vertical, but….. high jumping is just plain COOL.

In the last few years, I haven’t been able to help but notice the success of the Russian jumpers in the world’s best performances.  Take a look at some of the all time best in the world in men’s outdoor high jump. (From the IAAF website)

#1. All Time: Javier Sotomayor, Cuba. 2.45m

#2. All Time: Patrik  Sjöberg, Sweden.  2.42m

#3. All Time: Igor Paklin, Russia. 2.41m

#4. All Time: Rudolf Povarnitsyn, Russia. 2.40m

#4. All Time: Sorin Matei, Romania. 2.40m

#4. All Time: Charles Austin, USA. 2.40m

#4. All Time: Vyecheslav Voronin. Russia. 2.40m

#8. All Time: Jianhua Zhu. China. 2.39m

#9. All Time. Hollis Conway. USA. 2.39m

#10. All Time. Gennadiy Advyenko. Ukraine. 2.38m

#10. All Time. Sergey Malchenko. Russia. 2.38m

So there you have 5 Russian jumpers (I suppose Ukraine counts….) in the top 11 high jumps of all time.  This is even more dominant than the Finns in javelin!  A lot of this had to do with the science that went into the whole business, founded by the coach/scientists Vladimir Djachkov and Yuri Verkhoshanski.  When you have two of the greatest sport scientists of all time pioneering your efforts, you are going to do well!

In honor of the Russian’s success, I give to you a compilation video highlighting some of Russia’s finest high jumping, as well as plyometric training.

Joel Smith