Athletics records are a great source of data for use in primary schools. This week we have just published a set of pages that look at the world records for the long jump, for both men and women.

There have been many controversies concerning the long jump, including banning some methods, such as the somersault method. In this the jumper completes a somersault as they jump and it has the potential of increasing distances covered. However, the method was banned as it was thought to have been too dangerous for the athletes.

We have not included all the world record holders but it is perhaps interesting to note that the current records have stood for many years; Galina Chistyakova of the former Soviet Union jumped 7.52 metres in 1988 and it has not been beaten since.