Analysis of angular momentum during the run-up and takeoff in long jumping

Research films taken at the 1984 Olympic Games were analyzed for the purpose of investigating the origin of angular momentum in long jumping. The subjects included 12 male and 12 female Olympic long jumpers. Digitizing began 2.5 running cycles (five steps) prior to takeoff and ended half way through the flight phase (following takeoff). Of particular interest were the airborne H values during the run-up and the flight phase. The results showed that in the run-up, the long jumpers possessed about 85% of the angular momentum which they later possessed during the flight phase. This 85% decreased to about 50% in the two steps preceding takeoff. Thus the takeoff itself contributed about 50% of the total H that these jumpers possessed during flight.