Straddle technique flop is considered by many easier to learn, especially for younger jumpers, and thus has become the dominant technique. In 1993, an American high jumper Steve Harkins brought back the straddle style in the Master's division to break the Master's World Record and then went on to win the World's, beating a 'flopper' at the World Championships in Miyazaki Japan. Harkins used the 'head down first' style as did Brumel. At 6 '7" at the U.S. National Championships in Bozeman, Montana; in March 1993, Harkins was the highest jumper ever in the Master's to have used the straddle style. Straddle
Iolanda Balaș Her record of 1.91 m, set in 1961, lasted until the end of 1971 (beaten by Ilona Gusenbauer from Austria), when jumpers with a more efficient technique (the straddle technique, and later the Fosbury style) took over. After retiring from competition in 1967, Balaș married her former coach Ioan Söter, and taught physical education in Bucharest. Between 1988 and 2005 she was president of the Romanian Athletics Federation. She was also a member of the technical committee of the European Athletics Association, and in 1995 was elected to the women's commission of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Balaș