![]() These, for a time, gave rise to the idea that the triple jump may have featured at some Games. ![]() However, there are two accounts of individuals leaping impossible distances, including the 664BC Olympic champion Chionis of Sparta clearing 52ft/15.8m. It is not clear how far ancient Olympians jumped thanks to these helpful tools, given that the Greeks were solely interested in victory. Certainly a lot of athletes use music (nowadays) when they are warming up, to get in the right frame of mind.” “It is a distraction tool, a motivation tool. “There are lots of studies done on the effect of music,” he said. The gentle music also hits home with the award-winning coach. “We put a board or a platform at the point of take-off so you take off a little bit higher, therefore you get more lift off the floor, which gives you more time in the air, which means you can practise flight technique, landing positions, so on.” While Minichiello is yet to utilise the weight method in training, he does see the value of any technique that can give an athlete the feel of jumping further. With smooth grooves in them to help grip, the shapes also varied, from rectangular, to semi-circular and then hemispherical and elliptical. The stones varied in weight from 1.4-2.0kg to suit the different sized athletes. And those additional weights would give you more lift and carry more speed across the initial point of take-off.” “It is about generating horizontal force and then converting that force into lift. “It makes perfect sense,” said Toni Minichiello, long-time coach to London 2012 Olympic Games gold medal-winning British heptathlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill. Finally, just before they hit the earth, the athletes would discard the weights to ensure their hard-earned momentum was maintained. At the apex of the jump, arms would be flung backwards again, using the weights as counter-thrusts. At the take-off point competitors would thrust the weights back vigorously before stretching their arms back out in front of them to meet their feet. Forward momentum was first achieved through a short, powerful run up, during which they swung the weights back and forth. No doubt in a zen-like state, the athletes would then stand at the top of a reduced runway holding a large stone or lead weight in each hand. The long jumpers hit the track at Olympia accompanied by the calming and peaceful, if slightly unlikely sound of flute music. The long jump, javelin and discus are, of course, familiar Olympic disciplines, but their presentation at the Ancient Games varied significantly from that which is on show today – and not just because all the competitors were naked and covered in oil. Gold medal-winning coach Toni Minichiello is impressed by what he hears. Ancient field event techniques make “perfect sense” From flute music to slingshot mechanics, the long jump, javelin and discus at the Ancient Olympic Games stand out for their intricacy and innovation.
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