How did you get started?
Like most sportsmen, I fell into the sport by accident. I wanted to be a footballer, but tried the high jump and broke the school record at my first attempt. I used to play basketball and found I had a natural feel for the event
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How would I start?
Either by jumping at school or joining a local athletics club. If you believe you have a natural ‘feel’ for it you can learn how to jump properly
What is your personal attraction?
I had the choice to play basketball or continue high jumping. The high jump was a lot harder. I love the challenge of pushing myself to the limit. It is a very technical sport — second in difficulty only to the pole vault in athletics — which takes dedication and practice
What is the secret to jumping successfully?
Once you have taken off, there is not much else that a high jumper can do. Before I jump in competitions I concentrate on my run-up and penultimate stride in training. The idea is to practise my run-up continuously, making it a smooth and fluid action that becomes second nature
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Is there a stage when you know you will not clear a height?
In the last three to four strides of the run-up you can tell if someone will clear the bar
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How do you learn to high jump?
First, you need to know which foot you will jump off from. A simple test is to get somebody to push you from behind, and whatever foot you land on will be your strongest foot. If you put your left foot out, then you should run from the right-hand side of the bar. Once you have established that, put the bar just above the mat, jump over it and see what happens
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What skills are needed?
A jumper needs to be focused, co-ordinated, relaxed and dedicated. Natural talent is a huge part, but a successful jumper needs to be technically good.
What is the most important part of your routine?
Allowing my body to rest. There is a thin line between jumping continuously and not feeling tired
How common are injuries?
Injuries are part of the sport and usually occur in the knees, ankles and feet because of the constant pounding on the body and legs. We wear specially designed shoes that have spikes on the back, and these effectively allow us to run around a corner. At take-off, high jumpers can exert six times their normal body weight, so we do not want to slip and get injured
Are there any disadvantages to the event?
The sport is not very financially lucrative. I receive lottery funding, but it is performance-related and there are strict guidelines. You really need to be in the top 20 in the sport to earn a decent living. We only ever receive media coverage during major competitions
Do you need to be fit?
High jumping is an endurance event, and as the bar gets higher this becomes a key factor. My training is similar to that of a 400m runner, and fitness is a huge factor
Will there come a time when the bar cannot be raised any higher?
A height of 2.45m is phenomenal and is very difficult to reach. But 20 years ago people were not jumping the same heights that we do now. With an increase in technology, training, sports medicine and facilities, future generations will jump even higher
If you had one piece of advice, what would it be?
Do not commit yourself to high jumping straight away. Try other events first because once you have decided to become a high jumper, it is difficult to do something else
For more information on Ben visit www.nuff-respect.co.uk