Introduction: Run-up is a key component skill for successful performance in long jumping. Run-up success depends mainly upon the consistency of the stride length, number of strides, and pattern of speed development across all attempts (Hay, 1986). The intellectually disabled population (class F20) was represented in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The aim of the present study was to identify the biomechanical parameters of the final strides of the approach run in class F20 long jumpers predicting performance. Methods: The long jump, class F20, finalists participating in the 2012 London Paralympic Games (males=9, females=6 were recorded during the competition. White markers were placed at 1m intervals parallel to the runway`s lines. The approach phase of each jump was recorded using a Casio EX-F1 video camera operating at 300Hz (Theodorou et al., 2013). Videos were digitized using APAS 2010. Results: Mean best official distance (m), (males: 6.40±0.82; females: 5.06±0.60). Mean length (m) of three last strides, (males: 2.19, 2.34, 2.05; females: 1.91, 1.84, 1.94). Average horizontal velocity of three last strides (m/s), (males: 9.16, 9.32, 10.02; females: 8.24, 8.01, 9.13). Mean duration of take-off phase (s), (males: 0.124; females: 0.135). Mean frequency (Hz) of three last strides, (males: 4.22, 4.00, 4.83; females: 4.49, 4.15, 4.89). Performance was significantly correlated with average stride velocity at 3rd to last and 2nd to last strides in males (r = 0.88, p = 0.002; r = 0.83, p = 0.005 and r = 0.66, p = 0.053) and all the last 3 strides in females (r = 0.87, p = 0.023; r = 0.85, p = 0.029 and r = 0.84, p = 0.035). Discussion: In men, stride length values and technique were comparable to non-disabled elite athletes (Bae et al., 2011). In women, strides were about 15% shorter compared to elite and lacked technique (2nd stride shorter, last stride longest) (Hay 1986). Both in males and females, stride frequency and take-off duration was comparable to elite athletes but horizontal velocity was 10-15% less. The data of the present study demonstrate that the approach run characteristics of class F20 long jumpers are comparable to elite level athletes and best performance is highly correlated with horizontal velocity at the last three strides
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