Definition of the word high jump

The origin of the term "high jump" can be traced back to the 19th century when the event was first introduced in English public schools. Back then, the competition was known as "the scrape" due to the difficulty of clearing the bar without scraping one's knees on the ground. In 1860, the first recorded high jump competition took place at the Eton College sports day. The event was originally called the "broad jump over a bar" but soon the term "high jump" caught on as the athletes began to elevate the height of the barrier. As the sport of athletics (track and field) gained popularity worldwide, the high jump became an Olympic event in 1900. The earliest version of the high jump involved jumping over a series of hurdles, each higher than the last, until the athlete failed to clear one. The high jump equipment has evolved since then. The bar is now made of fiberglass or bamboo and suspended by yokes at either end. The athlete jumps with a running start, propelling themselves over the bar using a technique known as the "Fosbury Flop," which was developed by American athlete Dick Fosbury in the 1960s. In summary, the origin of the term "high jump" dates back to the Victorian era when the event was initially called "the scrape" due to the height of the barrier. As the competition evolved, the term "high jump" became widely adopted, and it has remained the official name for this exciting track and field event to this day.