The aim of this study was to investigate the relative influence of step length (SL) and step frequency (SF) on step velocity (SV) during the approach run of high-level long jumpers and to quantify the asymmetry of these step characteristics. Spatiotemporal data of the approach run were collected during national competition from 10 long jumpers (age 26.2 ± 4.1 years, height 1.84 ± 0.06 m, mass 72.77 ± 3.23 kg, personal best performance 7.96 ± 0.30 m). Analyses were conducted for total approach, early approach and late approach. For the total approach 4/10 athletes were SF reliant and 6/10 athletes favoured neither characteristic. At the early approach, 3/10 athletes were SF reliant and 7/10 athletes favoured neither. During late approach 2/10 athletes demonstrated SL reliance, 7/10 athletes were SF reliant and 1/10 athletes favoured neither. Four athletes displayed significant asymmetry for SL and three for SF. However, no athletes demonstrated significant asymmetry for SV indicating that the asymmetrical demands of take-off do not have a marked influence on step characteristic asymmetry, probably due to the constraints of the event. Consideration should be given to the potentially conflicting demands between limbs for individual athletes.
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