Excerpt from the Book Sports the Olympics Forgot This book describes 40 sports that ought to be played but aren’t, because I made them up.

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The High Jump is a very interesting event as the jumpers have to Propel themselves over the bar without once landing on their feet – the height record is 6 feet 8 inches by Boris Denisov in 1976 although it’s possible he was using steroids. Denisov had very strong triceps and so could lower himself to such an extent that his head was almost touching the ground. He was able to spring upwards from this low position and propel himself over the bar.

The Long Jump requires great precision and balance as the jumper has to stand on their hands and then run towards the take-off point before somersaulting so that their feet land on the board from where they spring into the pit. The record is 17 feet 6 inches by Boris Lusis in 1978. Lusis was a former gymnast and diver who was able to generate great forward power when moving between his hands and feet; during the transfer he was even able on occasions to include a side twist that generated extra power as he slammed into the board.