In the triple jump, the first phase is called the hop. An athlete takes off from the board and lands on the same foot, completing the hop before moving into the step and then the final jump.
The full sequence is therefore hop, step, and jump. The same-foot landing is what defines the first phase under competition rules; landing on the opposite foot would make it the beginning of the step phase instead. Athletes must preserve forward speed while producing enough lift and control for all three stages.
The triple jump has ancient Olympic inspiration and has been part of the modern Olympic program since the first modern Games in 1896. It is sometimes informally described as “hop, skip, and jump,” but “hop, step, and jump” is the standard technical wording used in athletics.
The event is measured from the take-off board to the nearest mark made in the sand. A foul occurs if the athlete steps beyond the board, so accuracy during the approach is as important as explosive power.