Triple jump is a track and field event in which an athlete leaps as far as he or she can in three continuous jumps. The event, once called the hop, step, and jump, requires a blend of speed, strength, and technique.
In the triple jump, the athlete sprints down a runway to a take-off point, a wooden board 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide. The athlete then jumps forward on one foot, lands on the same foot, jumps forward again, lands on the other foot, and then leaps into a sand-filled landing pit. The jump is measured from the front edge of the take-off point to the mark in the sand nearest that point. If the jumper’s foot crosses the front edge of the take-off point as he or she jumps, the attempt is a foul. The winner is determined by the longest fair jump.
Generally, each athlete gets six jumps if eight or fewer contestants enter the competition. If more than eight athletes compete, each one gets three jumps. The eight with the longest jumps qualify for the finals, where each of the eight gets three more jumps.
