Also known in track and field as the hop, step and jump, the triple jump is an event of both skill and athletics. In the event, competitors sprint down a runway, jump, take off and land on the same leg, then land on the opposite leg before bounding into a sand-filled pit. In the latest Summer Olympics in 2008, medalists in the triple jump were endorsed by the biggest names in sporting goods and received shoes as part of their partnership.
What Is the Triple Jump?
The triple jump is a three-stage activity. The first stage is the hop. Runners take off from the end of the runway, running as fast as they can before pushing off the ground to create the hopping motion. The second phase is the step, where the jumper seeks to ride the hop and propel their body into the jump, or third phase, in which the athlete pushes his body forward in a bounding motion to gain as much distance as possible.
Nelson Evora, Phillips Idowu and Hrysopiyí Devetzí
Nelson Evora of Portugal and Phillips Idowu of the United Kingdom were the top two finishers at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Both jumpers have endorsement deals from Adidas and wore the Adidas AdiZero, a low-profile shoe with an specially cushioned footbed and made in various styles for sprinters, distance runners and jumpers. Hrysopiyí Devetzí was the bronze medal winner in the women's event and also wore an AdiZero made specifically for triple jumpers.
Leevan Sands
Bahamian athlete Leevan Sands, who took bronze in Beijing in 2008, is a member of the Mizuno Track Club, a professional club affiliated with the Japanese sporting goods manufacturer. Mizuno made 10 different styles of track and field shoes as of March 2011, including its specialized TJ triple jump shoe.
Francoise Mbango and Tatyana Lebedeva
Cameroon's Francoise Mbango won the goal medal in the women's triple jump in 2008. Her record-breaking performance was accomplished wearing Nike. The world's largest sneaker manufacturer made 16 different types of track and field shoes as of March 2011. Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva finished second, also wearing Nike.
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