Carl Lewis, the nine-time Olympic champion, has expressed concerns over World Athletics’ proposed changes to the long jump format. He warned athletes like Tara Davis-Woodhall and Malaika Mihambo that the new take-off zone format could limit jump distances while failing to effectively reduce foul jumps.
World Athletics is looking to replace the traditional take-off board with a larger take-off zone. The goal is to decrease the number of fouls and potentially make competitions fairer and more exciting. However, Lewis believes that these changes will not bring meaningful improvements and could negatively impact the sport.
In a recent interview, Lewis argued that the new format would make it harder for jumpers to achieve longer distances. As a result, he suggested that breaking world records would be unrealistic under the new system. Until the rules return to the traditional format, he sees little hope for significant progress in long jump performances.
He further explained that the changes would not truly address the issue of fouls, as intended. Instead, they might make the event less competitive and reduce the overall excitement for both athletes and spectators. According to him, the shift in rules could do more harm than good.
“I think the bigger issue is that they’ve decided jumpers are not going to jump far enough anymore,” Lewis said. “The fouling situation hasn’t really changed much, and the only thing that has changed is the distances.”
He compared today’s long jump performances to those from 25 or 35 years ago, arguing that the event is already less competitive than it used to be. He believes that without a strong emphasis on proper technique, performances will not improve.
While many sports rely on genetics, Lewis emphasized that the long jump depends heavily on technique. Since the human body is not naturally built for jumping forward, athletes must rely on precise mechanics to achieve maximum distance.
With the proposed rule changes, Lewis said that athletes will be forced to adapt and become more creative with their approach. However, he also pointed out that the new system could complicate measurements at competitions.
“The distance will not improve, and fouling will not change much. Humans are not designed to jump forward naturally,” he explained. “If we have a big space, we could tell people to move back to the middle and jump, but that’s not going to make things better. It will also take more time to measure.”
Despite his concerns, Lewis acknowledged that athletes have little choice in the matter. They must continue competing under the new rules, as they are contractually obligated to participate in Diamond League meetings and other events. Boycotting these competitions is not an option unless they are willing to risk losing their contracts.
Although the new format is meant to enhance fairness and excitement, Lewis remains skeptical about its effectiveness. He believes that instead of improving the sport, it will create unnecessary challenges for athletes and officials alike. As the changes take effect, long jumpers will have to find ways to adapt while hoping that the governing body eventually reconsiders its decision.
