Some athletes and physics say that a somersault would increase the max distance of the long jump, however the technique has been banned for safety reasons
Would make the sport a lot more interesting to look at.

Here is an article on it:

July 29, 1974
The Flip That Led To A Flap
The sport's august officialdom is alarmed by a new long-jumping technique that could endanger a few necks—and the 30-foot barrier

[...]

In contrast, Ecker points out that the flip enables the jumper to take off from the board almost at full speed and at a more desirable higher angle. When he tucks and rolls into a somersault, wind resistance is cut. And since rotation is working with him rather than against him, his feet will land—assuming correct execution—well ahead of his body, and the latter should follow on through so that he does not fall back in the pit. In practice, the hardest part of the new technique to learn is landing. "Wiping out in the flip," Delamere says painfully, "is coming down butt first." To preclude that dire end, the East Germans reportedly have theorized that a half-twist should be added to the flip so that the jumper lands facing the board.

Few things in sport prove as easy in competition as on paper, and the flip is no exception. While the dynamics of the new technique may satisfy the laws of physics, the danger factor is at least a worrisome possibility.

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>> ^MaxWilder:
Very cool. Very impressive visually.
But he needs another 10 feet to beat the world record for long jump.

OOOOOORRRRRRRR the world record holder needs another front flip to beat this kid's record.

Very cool. Very impressive visually.

But he needs another 10 feet to beat the world record for long jump.

Friggin' ass that was a long jump!

Tags for this video have been changed from 'long jump, track and field, collision, fall' to 'long jump, track and field, collision, fall, boom headshot' - edited by calvados

That's not "the long jump". It's the triple jump.

Don't you think the second train was moving as well? I mean if I had it parked, I would have long jumped out and ran clear of the thing. This guy leaps out at the last min. Obviously it's because he was still tying to stop the train until the last possible moment.

Derby thanks for the info.