The triple jump ( also known in certain countries as a hop , step and jump or a hop , skip and jump ) is a athletics event . The triple jump ( sometimes referred to as the hop , step and jump or the hop , skip and jump ) is a track and field sport , similar to the long jump , but involving a â hop , step and jumpâ routine , whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop , a step and then a jump into the sand pit .