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>Some sports, for example, have "one major competition" once in 4 years (Olympic Games).

Even more so for gymnastics, where it's effectively one competition a lifetime.

On the other hand, Goodhart's law is the reason we have the Fosbury flop, clean & jerk and - formerly the greatest Olympic sport of all - racewalking.

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Right, but again, what's the True Goal of jump part of athletics? Unlikely it's "achieve maximum at vertical jumping with these very specific conditions". It's more like "achieve maximum at vertical jumping". Which includes thousands of variantions. It's just we can't measure it without some standards, so specific rules were introduced. In a way, these limitations that rule impose at technique are the byproduct of inability to measure True Goal. We measure what's measurable, and for that some degree of standartization is required.

I'm not sure I'm familiar with racewalking story. Any good links to read?

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