Can you critical hit while sprinting in Minecraft Java 1.9+?

[jules]

I have researched this and found many varying answers, can somebody please clarify. Is it possible to critical hit, after jumping, while in the air, while sprinting? Because some guides say to release the w key and then press it again. I'm not sure, thanks.

[Raziyah00]

No, you cannot critical hit while moving faster than walking in Java Edition.

https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Damage#Critical_hit [emphasis added]

The requirements for a melee critical hit are:

• A player must be falling.
• A player must not be on the ground.
• A player must not be on a ladder or any type of vine.
• A player must not be in water.
• A player must not be affected by blindness.
• A player must not be affected by Slow Falling.
• A player must not be riding an entity.
• A player must not be faster than walking (like flying or sprinting.‌ [Java Edition only] )
• A base attack must not be reduced to 84.8% damage or lower due to cooldown.‌ [Java Edition only]