How do you win the triple jump?
B · Beginner · The jump · 1 of 4The triple jump is a hop, a step and a jump made in one run, ending in sand. The longest valid jump wins. It is measured from the nearest mark in the sand back to the take-off line. Each athlete has three trials, and the best eight get three more.
How it works
- Three phases: "The Triple Jump shall consist of a hop, a step and a jump in that order."
- The run: along a runway at least 40 m long.
- The take-off: from a white board set well back from the sand, at least 13 m for men and 11 m for women at major competitions.
- The foul: breaking the plane of the take-off line with the front of the take-off foot.
- The landing: the last phase ends in a pit of soft damp sand.
- The measurement: from the nearest break in the sand made by any part of the body back to the take-off line.
- Trials: with more than eight athletes, each has three trials and the eight with the best valid jumps have three more.
- The result: each athlete is credited with the best of all their trials.
- Level on distance: the second-best jump decides, then the third-best.
- The clock: one minute for each trial.
- Wind: measured for every jump. It matters for records and not for the placings.
Each attempt is a trial. A failed attempt is commonly called a foul.
Tricky cases
Is the distance the last jump only?
No. It is measured from the take-off line at the start of the hop to the mark in the sand, so all three phases count.
An athlete has one huge jump and five fouls. Can they win?
Yes. The result is the best valid trial, and one is enough.
Does a strong following wind cancel a jump?
No. The jump counts for the competition. A following wind of more than 2 metres per second only stops it being ratified as a record.
Do men and women use the same take-off board?
No, not usually. Where the level of competition needs it there are separate boards, the men's further from the sand.
Why the rule exists
The fixed order of feet is what separates this event from the long jump: the athlete has to keep speed through two landings on the runway before the last jump. Everything else, from the board to the tape, is shared with the long jump.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 25.6; TR 25.21; TR 25.22; TR 29; TR 30; TR 31 |
| Eight athletes or fewer | Everyone has six trials | TR 25.6 |
| Other competitions | The distance from the board to the sand is set to suit the level | TR 31.4 |
| Competition regulations | May set fewer trials, never more than six | TR 25.6 (note iii); TR 1 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 25.6, 25.17, 25.21, 25.22 and 29 to 31. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).