Amy Acuff, 40, thinks she has shot at 2016 Rio and 2.01-meter PR
Amy Acuff turned 40 in mid-July, and I forgot to send greetings. So hi, Amy! Happy birthday! To make up for my delay, here’s a great ESPN profile of the six-time Olympian, where we learn: “Acuff set her lifetime best in 2003, when she jumped 2.01 meters in Zurich, Switzerland. In Rio, at 41, she believes she could break that mark. ‘Maybe I’m nuts,’ she says, ‘but I feel like it’s just a function of getting into meets and getting polished. Maybe that’s complete fantasy. But it would be amazing to do better than I ever have before. More than that, I just want to feel the thrill of running down there, applying as much force as I can, hitting all my positions, and just connecting with the earth and being flung so high in the air. Time slows down as you go over the bar. It’s a tremendous feeling of power and control — but also [of being] out of control because you’re at the max of what you can handle. When you’re jumping your best like that, there’s nothing like it. It’s so cool.” Here’s an interview from 2015 Eugene nationals.
She also says:
The majority of people have to stop high jumping in their mid-20s because of injury, mainly the lower leg, foot, ankle — sometimes a knee or hip. It’s a really abusive movement if you’re not super-efficient. You run, then try to convert all your forward momentum into vertical momentum. If you hit it wrong, it’s like a little car accident.
You have to set up your takeoff position with your ankle just right so you don’t get repetitive injuries from collapsing or rolling the foot.
Would love to see Amy in Rio! Go get it, champ.
3 Responses
GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She has jumped 6′ 2″ and placed third at the USATF nationals this year after a three year layoff so making the Olympic qualifying standard is within reach. I’ll be cheering for her.
Wold be amazing to PR
How about 1.96 and a new Masters WR?
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