Men's high jump world record progression

The first world record in the men's high jump was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.

As of June, 2009, the IAAF has ratified 40 world records in the event.

Note that almost all records up to and including 1960 were set in the United States and were originally measured in feet and inches; they were converted to metric before being ratified as world records. When measurements were taken in feet and inches the bar could be raised, for record-attempt purposes, in increments of one-quarter inch. Using the metric system a new record must be (at least) one centimeter higher. In 1973, American Dwight Stones was the first Fosbury Flop jumper to set a world record. The namesake of the technique, Dick Fosbury impressed the world by winning the 1968 Olympics with the flop, but never held the world record. The last Straddle style jumper to hold the World Record was Vladimir Yashchenko (Soviet Union/Ukraine) in 1978-- all record-setters since then have used the Flop technique.

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