The Friendship Games are held yet again at Canterlot High, but this time however, there are other disciplines, especially in track and field. Rainbow Dash is known for her sheer speed, but she did find some interest in high jump recently.
Applejack on the other hand is a high jump veteran, she has mastered the straddle. She is the crowd's favourite for the high jump.
But then, there was Apple Lauda, a lousy straddler who couldn't even jump over a chair. The only thing he broke was his hand...
"Apple Lauda, why don't you just quit? this isn't the right sport for you, you will hurt yourself more if you keep going" Silverstream says, clearly worried.
"there must be a way... it has to be..." Apple Lauda coldly says, but then, an idea gets into his mind.
"what if... I arch my back as I jump over the bar? will this work?!" Apple Lauda asks himself.
Silverstream facepalms. "you will seriously hurt yourself Apple Lauda, stop it!!! besides, this technique won't work... you have to bring your center of mass over the bar and not below it"
However, Apple Lauda began to practice. He changed the approach and ran diagonally towards the bar. He jumps backwards, arching his back and clears the bar with absolute ease as well as landing safely.
"what was that!?" Silverstream asks in shock
"a Fosbury" Apple Lauda explains.
"hey, everyone will think that you will cheat if you use this!!!" Silverstream says.
"Fuck it, this is the only way to fly now" Apple Lauda responds coldly, approaching the Friendship Games with confidence a few days later.
In the high jump final, only 4 jumpers remain: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Apple Lauda
"why are you even trying this technique? the straddle is the way to fly" Applejack mockingly says.
"yeah, I mean look at me and Applejack, we've jumped higher in the prelims than you. You won't have the slightest chance of winning" Rainbow Dash agrees with Applejack.
"good luck Apple Lauda, I bet you will revolutionize the high jump" Fluttershy says.
Apple Lauda whispers to himself "I'll show you what Dick Fosbury did in 1968"
Silverstream however doesn't believe Apple Lauda will have success in doing the Fosbury Flop, but little does she know, things will have an unexpected turn.
the entry height is 2.18 meters. Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash make it over the bar easily. It was now Apple Lauda's turn. He failed to clear 2.10 eters in the prelims, but it was enough to make it into the finals.
He gather his thoughts, making his two hands to fists and telling himself I have to clear this damn bar over and over again.
Soon, he makes his run-up, Applejack and Rainbow Dash snickering, knowing Apple Lauda will probably fail, but in a short moment...
Apple Lauda does the Fosbury Flop and clears the bar effortlessly.
As the bar got raised higher and higher, Applejack and Rainbow Dash start to struggle to clear the bar at an height of 2.22 meters. In all their attempts, they fail to clear the bar.
It was now on... Apple Lauda vs. Fluttershy...
"I can't believe it!!! how is Apple Lauda still in this competition?!" Applejack says in disbelief.
"he's gotta be cheating!!!!" Rainbow Dash exclaims.
"he isn't girls.... he would never cheat in any sport... I have no idea why he is clearing the bar so easily, but apparently, this might change the high jump forever" Fluttershy says.
"but why hasn't he dropped the bar once huh?! he's a two legged camel!!!" Applejack calls out.
"well he might be... but apparently something must be the reason..." Fluttershy says as she gets an theory why Apple Lauda has almost no trouble at all to clear the bar. "unless, the center of gravity goes below the bar while he is above the bar"
"WHAT?!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash say in unison.
"how is this supposed to even work?!" Rainbow Dash asks.
"by arching his back, Apple Lauda's center of gravity stays below the bar" Fluttershy explains,
"WHY HAS NO ONE TOLD ABOUT THIS?!?!" Applejack says in disbelief.
"but now we know how we can jump higher" Rainbow Dash says.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy and Apple Lauda have their 1vs.1 in the high jump. The bar is at 2.22 meters.
"come on Fluttershy, you can do this... the straddle is the technique you learned and now you will win this" Fluttershy told herself. Then, she makes the run-up and jumps.
CLONK
the bar has dropped. Now it was all set for Apple Lauda. Again, he gathers his thoughts and makes his run-up.
Again, he does the Fosbury Flop and clears the bar effortlessly in the first attempt.
But Fluttershy is able to keep up and clears the 2.22 Meter bar in the second try.
and then, the bar has been raised to 2.24 Meters. Fluttershy jumps first and fails.
"okay... clear this bar and you win this thing..." Apple Lauda tells to himself.
He runs towards the bar and...
CLONK
Apple Lauda has dropped the bar... the door is wide open for Fluttershy!!!
"Okay Fluttershy... you can beat this guy... you can beat Apple Lauda!!! the Fosbury Flop is nothing compared to the straddle" Fluttershy encourages herself.
She makes the run up and again... the bar drops
Apple Lauda however also fails... it's now make or break!!!
"COME ON FLUTTERSHY!!!" Rarity shouts
"OUTSTRADDLE THIS FOSBURY FLOP!!!" Pinkie yells in cheer
Fluttershy exhales deeply and then...
CLONK
"I better hope Apple Lauda doesn't make it" Fluttershy tells herself.
but fate had other plans... in the last attempt, Apple Lauda flops over the bar and wins the high jump contest.
However, he goes for a new world record of 2.29 meters...
"this one's for you Fosbury" Apple Lauda says as he runs up to the bar. He jumps but fails...
this doesn't change in the next two attempts, the old world record of 2.28 meters still remains...
but little does Apple Lauda know, he will change the high jump at Canterlot High School forever...
"Well done Apple Lauda... I guess Fosbury was right back then..." Fluttershy says
"oh he was right, I trusted the footage and it paid off" Apple Lauda responds with an chuckle.
And after the victory ceremony, Apple Lauda and the girls had a nice rest of the day.
Author's Note
R.I.P Dick Fosbury...
the guy who changed high jump 56 years ago