Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the Mycenaean Greeks, Minoan Greeks and Celts.[citation needed] It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 2000 for women.

Athletics
Pole vault
Vaulting phases of world record holder Armand Duplantis
World records
MenSweden Armand Duplantis 6.23 m (20 ft 5+14 in) (2023)
WomenRussia Yelena Isinbayeva 5.06 m (16 ft 7 in) (2009)
Olympic records
MenBrazil Thiago Braz 6.03 m (19 ft 9+14 in) (2016)
WomenRussia Yelena Isinbayeva 5.05 m (16 ft 6+34 in) (2008)
World Championship records
MenSweden Armand Duplantis 6.21 m (20 ft 4+14 in) (2022)
WomenRussia Yelena Isinbayeva 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in) (2005)

It is typically classified as one of the four major jumping events in athletics, alongside the high jump, long jump and triple jump. It is unusual among track and field sports in that it requires a significant amount of specialised equipment in order to participate, even at a basic level. A number of elite pole vaulters have had backgrounds in gymnastics, including world record breakers Yelena Isinbayeva and Brian Sternberg, reflecting the similar physical attributes required for the sports.[1][2] Physical attributes such as speed, agility and strength, along with technical skill, are essential to pole vaulting.

History edit

 
Robert Musgrave of Keswick (1841-1901), the first man to clear more than ten feet in the pole vault.
 
Pole vault in the 1890s at US Naval Academy
 
Traditional fierljeppen in the Netherlands, using poles to clear "horizontal distances" over rivers

Poles were used as a practical means of passing over natural obstacles in marshy places such as the province of Friesland in the Netherlands, along the North Sea, and the great level of the Fens in England across Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Artificial draining of these marshes created a network of open drains or canals intersecting each other. To cross these without getting soaked, while avoiding tedious roundabout journeys over bridges, a stack of jumping poles was kept at every house and used for vaulting over the canals.[3]

Distance pole vaulting competitions continue to be held annually in the lowlands around the North Sea. These far-jumping competitions (Frisian: Fierljeppen) are not based on height.[4]

The earliest recorded pole vaulting competition where height was measured took place at the Ulverston Football and Cricket Club, Lancashire, north of the sands (now Cumbria) in 1843.[5] Competition began in continental Europe around 1850 in Germany, when pole vaulting was added to the exercises of the Turner gymnastic clubs by Johann C. F. GutsMuths and Friedrich L. Jahn.

Originally, poles were made of ash and from hickory wood. Bamboo poles were introduced in 1904, and both aluminum and steel poles appeared after 1945. Glass fiber vaulting poles were invented in 1967 by James Monroe Lindler of the Columbia Products Company, Columbia, South Carolina. An application filed on 10 March 1967 was granted patent status on 27 January 1970 for the manufacture of, "a vaulting pole of hollow construction with an integral helical winding," and a method of manufacturing the same (see: US Patent US3491999A). The process starts with a metal tube, referred to in the industry as a mandrel, around which is wound a tape made of glass fibers impregnated with a resin. This is baked in an oven and after cooling the mandrel is removed to leave a hollow glass fiber tube. This process was based on a similar method used for manufacturing glass fiber golf clubs patented by the Woolley Manufacturing Company of Escondido, California in 1954 (see: US Patent US2822175A).

In September 2005, Jeffrey P. Watry, Ralph W. Paquin, and Kenneth A. Hursey of Gill Athletic, Champaign, Illinois, filed application to patent a new method of winding the glass fibers around the pole in layers, each wound in a different direction or orientation to provide specific properties to various parts of the pole. This was called Carbon Weave, and their patent was granted on 21 October 2008 (see: US Patent US3491999A). David J. Dodge and William C. Doble of the Alliance Design and Development Group of New York City, New York, were granted a patent in 2006 for the manufacture of, "sports equipment having a tubular structural member" which led to the introduction of carbon fiber vaulting poles in 2007 (see: US Patent US7140398B2).

 
Pole vaulter Allison Stokke prepares for her jump.

In 2000, IAAF rule 260.18a (formerly 260.6a) was amended, so that "world records" (as opposed to "indoor world records") can be set in a facility "with or without roof". This rule was not applied retroactively.[6] With many indoor facilities not conforming to outdoor track specifications for size and flatness, the pole vault was the only world record set indoors until 2022.

Modern vaulting edit

Today, athletes compete in the pole vault as one of the four jumping events in track and field. Because the high jump and pole vault are both vertical jumps, the competitions are conducted similarly. Each athlete can choose at what height they would like to enter the competition. Once they enter, they have three attempts to clear the height. If a height is cleared, the vaulter advances to the next height, where they will have three more attempts. Once the vaulter has three consecutive misses, they are out of the competition and the highest height they cleared is their result. A "no height", often denoted "NH", refers to the failure of a vaulter to clear any bar during the competition.

Once the vaulter enters the competition, they can choose to pass heights. If a vaulter achieves a miss on their first attempt at a height, they can pass to the next height, but they will only have two attempts at that height, as they will be out once they achieve three consecutive misses. Similarly, after earning two misses at a height, they could pass to the next height, when they would have only one attempt.

 
An athlete passes the bar with the aid of a pole.

The competitor who clears the highest height is the winner. If two or more vaulters have finished with the same height, the tie is broken by the number of misses at the final height. If the tied vaulters have the same number of misses at the last height cleared, the tie is broken by the total number of misses in the competition.

If there is still a tie for first place, a jump-off occurs to break the tie. Marks achieved in this type of jump-off are considered valid and count for any purpose that a mark achieved in a normal competition would.

If a tie in the other places still exists, a jump-off is not normally conducted, unless the competition is a qualifying meet, and the tie exists in the final qualifying spot. In this case, an administrative jump-off is conducted to break the tie, but the marks are not considered valid for any other purpose than breaking the tie.

A jump-off is a sudden death competition in which the tied vaulters attempt the same height, starting with the last attempted height. If both vaulters miss, the bar goes down by a small increment, and if both clear, the bar goes up by a small increment. A jump-off ends when one vaulter clears and the other misses. Each vaulter gets one attempt at each height until one makes and one misses.

The equipment and rules for pole vaulting are similar to the high jump. Unlike high jump, however, the athlete in the vault has the ability to select the horizontal position of the bar, known as the standards, before each jump and can place it a distance beyond the back of the box, the metal pit that the pole is placed into immediately before takeoff. The range of distance the vaulter may place the standards varies depending on the level of competition.

 
Painting by former athlete Raffaello Ducceschi depicting the pole vault

If the pole used by the athlete dislodges the bar from the uprights, a foul attempt is ruled, even if the athlete has cleared the height. An athlete does not benefit from quickly leaving the landing pad before the bar has fallen. The exception to this rule is if the vaulter is vaulting outdoors and has made a clear effort to throw the pole back, but the wind has blown the pole into the bar; this counts as a clearance. This call is made at the discretion of the pole vault official. If the pole breaks during the execution of a vault, it is considered an equipment failure and is ruled a non-jump, neither a make nor a miss. Other types of equipment failure include the standards slipping down or the wind dislodging the bar when no contact was made by the vaulter.

Each athlete has a set amount of time in which to make an attempt. The amount of time varies by level of competition and the number of vaulters remaining. If the vaulter fails to begin an attempt within this time, the vaulter is charged with a time foul and the attempt is a miss.

Poles are manufactured with ratings corresponding to the vaulter's maximum weight. As a safety precaution, some organizations forbid use of poles rated below the vaulter's weight. The recommended weight roughly corresponds to a flex rating that is determined by the manufacturer by applying a standardized amount of stress (most commonly a 50 lb (23 kg) weight) on the pole and measuring how much the center of the pole is displaced. Therefore, two poles rated at the same weight are not necessarily the same stiffness.

Pole stiffness and length are important factors to a vaulter's performance. Therefore, it is not uncommon for an elite vaulter to carry as many as ten poles to a competition. The effective length of a pole can be changed by gripping the pole higher or lower in relation to the top of the pole. The left and right handgrips are typically a bit more than shoulder width apart. Poles are manufactured for people of all skill levels and body sizes, with lengths between 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) and 5.30 m (17 ft 5 in) and a wide range of weight ratings. Each manufacturer determines the weight rating for the pole and the location of the maximum handhold band.

Speed is an essential element to high jumps. The horizontal kinetic energy produced by the run   is converted to vertical propulsion  . Assuming no loss of energy  , this means that  .

Technology edit

Competitive pole vaulting began using solid ash poles. As the heights attained increased, bamboo poles gave way to tubular aluminum,[7] which was tapered at each end. Today's pole vaulters benefit from poles produced by wrapping pre-cut sheets of fiberglass that contains resin around a metal pole mandrel, to produce a slightly curved pole that bends more easily under the compression caused by an athlete's take-off. The shape of the fiberglass sheets and the amount of fiberglass used is carefully planned to provide the desired length and stiffness of pole. Different fiber types, including carbon-fiber, are used to give poles specific characteristics intended to promote higher jumps. In recent years, carbon fiber has been added to the commonly used E-glass (E for initial electrical use) and S-glass (S for solid) materials to create a lighter pole.

As in the high jump, the landing area was originally a heap of sawdust or sand where athletes landed on their feet. As technology enabled higher vaults, mats evolved into bags of large chunks of foam. Today's mats are foam usually 1–1.5 meters (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) thick. They are usually built up with two cross-laid square section logs with gaps between them, topped by a solid layer of foam of the same thickness. This lattice construction is wrapped in a close-fitting cover topped with nylon mesh, which allows some air to escape, thus combining both foam and a measure of air cushioning. The final layer is a large mat of mesh-covered foam which is clipped around the edges of the complete pit and prevents the athlete from falling between the individual bags. Mats are growing larger in area as well to minimize risk of injury. Proper landing technique is on the back or shoulders. Landing on the feet should be avoided, to eliminate the risk of injury to the lower extremities, particularly ankle sprains.

Rule changes over the years have resulted in larger landing areas and additional padding of all hard and unyielding surfaces.

The pole vault crossbar has evolved from a triangular aluminum bar to a round fiberglass bar with rubber ends. This is balanced on standards and can be knocked off when it is hit by a pole vaulter or the pole. Rule changes have led to shorter pegs and crossbar ends that are semi-circular.

Technique edit

Phases of pole vaulting
Théo Mancheron competes in the men's decathlon pole vault final during the French Athletics Championships 2013 at Stade Charléty in Paris, 13 July 2013.

Although many techniques are used by vaulters at various skill levels to clear the bar, the generally accepted technical model can be broken down into several phases.

Approach edit

During the approach the pole vaulter sprints down the runway in such a way as to achieve maximum speed and correct position to initiate takeoff at the end of the approach. A tape measure is laid on the runway so vaulters know exactly where to start their run from. Each vaulter has a certain starting distance, dependent on how many steps away from the box they start. Top class vaulters use approaches with 18 to 22 strides, often referred to as a "step" in which every other foot is counted as one step. For example when a vaulter takes 18 strides, it would be referred to as a 9-step, as 22 strides would be an 11-step. The run-up to the vaulting pit begins forcefully with the vaulter running powerfully in a relaxed, upright position with knees lifted and torso leaning very slightly forward. Right handed vaulters will start with a step back with their right foot before starting the run, left handed vaulters with their left back to begin. The head, shoulders and hips are aligned, the vaulter increasing speed as the body becomes erect. The tip of the vaulting pole is angled higher than eye level until three paces from takeoff, when the pole tip descends efficiently, amplifying run speed as the pole is planted into the vault box. The faster the vaulter can run and the more efficient their take-off is, the greater the kinetic energy that can be achieved and used during the vault.

Plant and take-off edit

The plant and take-off is initiated typically three steps out from the final step. Vaulters will usually count their steps backwards from their starting point to the box only counting the steps taken on the left foot (vice versa for left-handers). For example, a vaulter on a "ten count" (referring to the number of counted steps from the starting point to the box) would count backwards from ten, only counting the steps taken with the left foot. These last three steps are normally quicker than the previous strides and are referred to as the "turn-over". The goal of this phase is to efficiently translate the kinetic energy accumulated from the approach into potential energy stored by the elasticity of the pole, and to gain as much initial vertical height as possible by jumping off the ground. The plant starts with the vaulter raising their arms up from around the hips or mid-torso until they are fully outstretched above the head, with the right arm extended directly above the head and the left arm extended perpendicular to the pole (vice versa for left-handed vaulters). At the same time, the vaulter is dropping the pole tip into the box. On the final step, the vaulter jumps off the trail leg which should always remain straight and then drives the front knee forward. As the pole slides into the back of the box the pole begins to bend and the vaulter continues up and forward, leaving the trail leg angled down and behind, the body in a backwards 'C' position.

Swing up edit

The swing and row simply consists of the vaulter swinging the trail leg forward and rowing the pole, bringing the top arm down to the hips, while trying to keep the trail leg straight to store more potential energy into the pole, the rowing motion also keeps the pole bent for a longer period of time for the vaulter to get into optimum position. When parallel to the pole the left arm hugs the pole tight to efficiently use the recoil within the pole. The goal is to carry out these motions as thoroughly and as quickly as possible; it is a race against the unbending of the pole. Effectively, this causes a double pendulum motion, with the top of the pole moving forward and pivoting from the box, while the vaulter acts as a second pendulum pivoting from the right hand. This action gives the vaulter the best position possible to be "ejected" off the pole. The swing continues until the hips are above the head and the arms are pulling the pole close to the chest; from there the vaulter shoots their legs up over the cross bar while keeping the pole close.[8][9]

Extension edit

The extension refers to the extension of the hips upward with outstretched legs as the shoulders drive down, causing the vaulter to be positioned upside down. This position is often referred to as "inversion". While this phase is executed, the pole begins to recoil, propelling the vaulter quickly upward. The hands of the vaulter remain close to the body as they move from the shins back to the region around the hips and upper torso.

Turn edit

The turn is executed immediately during the end of the rockback. As the name implies, the vaulter turns 180° toward the pole while extending the arms down past the head and shoulders. Typically the vaulter will begin to angle their body toward the bar as the turn is executed, although ideally the vaulter will remain as vertical as possible. A more accurate description of this phase of the vault may be "the spin" because the vaulter spins around an imaginary axis from head to toe.

Fly-away edit

This is often highly emphasized by spectators and novice vaulters, but it is the easiest phase of the vault and is a result of proper execution of previous phases. This phase mainly consists of the vaulter pushing off the pole and releasing it so the pole falls away from the crossbar and mats. As the torso goes over and around the crossbar, the vaulter is facing the crossbar. Rotation of the body over the bar occurs naturally, and the vaulter's main concern is making sure that their arms, face and any other appendages do not knock the bar off as they go over, you should aim to whip your upper torso around the top of the cross bar to ensure your elbows and face don't knock it off. The elite vaulter's center of gravity passes underneath the crossbar when they have their hips in the highest position like the crotch of an upside-down 'V'. The vaulter should land near the middle of the foam landing mats, or pit, face up. Landing on the feet or stomach first may lead to injuries or other problems.

Terminology edit

Bar
The cross bar that is suspended above the ground by the standards.
Box
A trapezoidal indentation in the ground with a metal or fiberglass covering at the end of the runway in which vaulters "plant" their pole. The back wall of the box is nearly vertical and is approximately 8 inches (20 cm) in depth. The bottom of the box gradually slopes upward approximately 3 feet (90 cm) until it is level with the runway. The covering in the box ensures the pole will slide to the back of the box without catching on anything. The covering's lip overlaps onto the runway and ensures a smooth transition from all-weather surface so a pole being planted does not catch on the box.
Drive knee
During the plant phase, the knee is driven forward at the time of "takeoff" to help propel the vaulter upward.
Grip
The location of the vaulter's top hand on the pole. As the vaulter improves, their grip may move up the pole incrementally. The other hand is typically placed shoulder-width down from the top hand. Hands are not allowed to grip the very top of the pole (their hand perpendicular to the pole) for safety reasons.
Jump foot
The foot that the vaulter uses to leave the ground as they begin their vault. It is also referred to as the take-off foot.
Pit
The mats used for landing in pole vault.
Plant position
The position a vaulter is in the moment the pole reaches the back of the box and the vaulter begins their vault. Their arms are fully extended and their drive knee begins to come up as they jump.
Pole
The fiberglass equipment used to propel the vaulter up and over the bar. One side is stiffer than the other to facilitate the bending of the pole after the plant. A vaulter may rest the pole on their arm to determine which side is the stiff side.
Standards
The equipment that holds the bar at a particular height above the ground. Standards may be adjusted to raise and lower the bar and also to adjust the horizontal position of the bar.
Steps
Since the box is in a fixed position, vaulters must adjust their approach to ensure they are in the correct position when attempting to vault.
Swing leg or trail leg
The swing leg is also the jump foot. After a vaulter has left the ground, the leg that was last touching the ground stays extended and swings forward to help propel the vaulter upwards.
Volzing
A method of holding or pushing the bar back onto the pegs while jumping over a height. This takes considerable skill, although it is now against the rules and counted as a miss. The technique is named after U.S. Olympian Dave Volz, who made an art form of the practice and surprised many by making the U.S. Olympic team in 1992.

All-time top 25 edit

Men (outdoor) edit

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 6.23 m (20 ft 5+14 in) Armand Duplantis   Sweden 17 September 2023 Eugene [14]
2 6.21 m (20 ft 4+14 in) Duplantis #2 24 July 2022 Eugene
3 6.16 m (20 ft 2+12 in) Duplantis #3 30 June 2022 Stockholm [15]
4 6.15 m (20 ft 2 in) Duplantis #4 17 September 2020 Rome
2 5 6.14 m (20 ft 1+12 in) A Sergey Bubka   Ukraine 31 July 1994 Sestriere
6 6.13 m (20 ft 1+14 in) Bubka #2 19 September 1992 Tokyo
7 6.12 m (20 ft 34 in) Bubka #3 30 August 1992 Padua
Duplantis #5 27 June 2023 Ostrava [16]
9 6.11 m (20 ft 12 in) Bubka #4 13 June 1992 Dijon
Duplantis #6 4 June 2023 Hengelo [17]
11 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in) Bubka #5 5 August 1991 Malmö
Duplantis #7 6 June 2021 Hengelo
Duplantis #8 6 August 2022 Chorzów [18]
Duplantis #9 25 August 2022 Lausanne [19]
Duplantis #10 26 August 2023 Budapest [20]
Duplantis #11 8 September 2023 Brussels [21]
17 6.09 m (19 ft 11+34 in) Bubka #6 8 July 1991 Formia
18 6.08 m (19 ft 11+14 in) Bubka #7 9 June 1991 Moscow
19 6.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in) Bubka #8 6 May 1991 Shizuoka
Duplantis #12 2 September 2020 Lausanne
Duplantis #13 8 September 2022 Zürich [22]
3 19 6.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in) KC Lightfoot   United States 2 June 2023 Nashville [23]
23 6.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in) Bubka #9 10 July 1988 Nice
4 23 6.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in) Sam Kendricks   United States 27 July 2019 Des Moines [24]
23 6.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in) Duplantis #14 9 September 2021 Zürich [25]
Duplantis #15 20 August 2022 Munich [26]
5 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in) Maksim Tarasov   Russia 16 June 1999 Athens
Dmitri Markov   Australia 9 August 2001 Edmonton
Renaud Lavillenie   France 30 May 2015 Eugene
8 6.04 m (19 ft 9+34 in) Brad Walker   United States 8 June 2008 Eugene
9 6.03 m (19 ft 9+14 in) Okkert Brits   South Africa 18 August 1995 Cologne
Jeff Hartwig   United States 14 June 2000 Jonesboro
Thiago Braz   Brazil 15 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [27]
12 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in) Piotr Lisek   Poland 12 July 2019 Monaco [28]
13 6.01 m (19 ft 8+12 in) Igor Trandenkov   Russia 3 July 1996 St. Petersburg
Timothy Mack   United States 18 September 2004 Monaco
Yevgeny Lukyanenko   Russia 1 July 2008 Bydgoszcz
Björn Otto   Germany 5 September 2012 Aachen
17 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) Radion Gataullin   Soviet Union 16 September 1989 Tokyo
Tim Lobinger   Germany 24 August 1997 Cologne
Toby Stevenson   United States 8 May 2004 Modesto
Paul Burgess   Australia 26 February 2005 Perth
Steve Hooker   Australia 27 January 2008 Perth
Timur Morgunov   Authorised Neutral Athletes 12 August 2018 Berlin [29]
Chris Nilsen   United States 6 May 2022 Sioux Falls [30]
Ernest John Obiena   Philippines 10 June 2023 Bergen [31]
26 August 2023 Budapest [20]
25 5.98 m (19 ft 7+14 in) Lawrence Johnson   United States 25 May 1996 Knoxville
Jean Galfione   France 23 July 1999 Amiens

Women (outdoor) edit

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 5.06 m (16 ft 7 in) Yelena Isinbayeva   Russia 28 August 2009 Zürich
2 5.05 m (16 ft 6+34 in) Isinbayeva #2 18 August 2008 Beijing
3 5.04 m (16 ft 6+14 in) Isinbayeva #3 29 July 2008 Monaco
4 5.03 m (16 ft 6 in) Isinbayeva #4 11 July 2008 Rome
5 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in) Isinbayeva #5 12 August 2005 Helsinki
2 5 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in) Anzhelika Sidorova   Authorised Neutral Athletes 9 September 2021 Zürich [32]
7 5.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in) Isinbayeva #6 22 July 2005 London
3 7 5.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in) Sandi Morris   United States 9 September 2016 Brussels [33]
9 4.96 m (16 ft 3+14 in) Isinbayeva #7 22 July 2005 London
10 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Isinbayeva #8 16 July 2005 Madrid
Morris #2 27 July 2018 Greenville
Sidorova #2 29 September 2019 Doha [34]
4 10 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Katie Nageotte   United States 26 June 2021 Eugene
5 14 4.94 m (16 ft 2+14 in) Eliza McCartney   New Zealand 17 July 2018 Jockgrim [35]
15 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in) Isinbayeva #9 5 July 2005 Lausanne
Isinbayeva #10 26 August 2005 Brussels
Isinbayeva #11 25 July 2008 London
Morris #3 23 July 2016 Houston
6 15 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in) Jennifer Suhr   United States 14 April 2018 Austin
15 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in) Nageotte #2 23 May 2021 Marietta
21 4.92 m (16 ft 1+12 in) Isinbayeva #12 3 September 2004 Brussels
Suhr #2 6 July 2008 Eugene
McCartney #2 23 June 2018 Mannheim
Nageotte #3 1 August 2020 Marietta
25 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Isinbayeva #13 24 August 2004 Athens
Isinbayeva #14 28 July 2006 London
Isinbayeva #15 6 July 2007 Saint-Denis
Suhr #3 26 July 2011 Rochester
Suhr #4 14 June 2013 Lyndonville
7 25 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Yarisley Silva   Cuba 2 August 2015 Beckum
Katerina Stefanidi   Greece 6 August 2017 London [36]
25 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Suhr #5 30 March 2019 Austin
Sidorova #3 10 June 2021 Florence
Sidorova #4 2 August 2022 Cheboksary
9 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Holly Bradshaw   Great Britain 26 June 2021 Manchester
Nina Kennedy   Australia 23 August 2023 Budapest [37]
11 4.88 m (16 ft 0 in) Svetlana Feofanova   Russia 4 July 2004 Herakleion
12 4.87 m (15 ft 11+12 in) Fabiana Murer   Brazil 3 July 2016 São Bernardo do Campo [38]
13 4.85 m (15 ft 10+34 in) Wilma Murto   Finland 17 August 2022 Munich [39]
14 4.83 m (15 ft 10 in) Stacy Dragila   United States 8 June 2004 Ostrava
Anna Rogowska   Poland 26 August 2005 Brussels
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou   Greece 4 July 2015 Paris [40]
Michaela Meijer   Sweden 1 August 2020 Norrköping [41]
18 4.82 m (15 ft 9+34 in) Monika Pyrek   Poland 22 September 2007 Stuttgart
Silke Spiegelburg   Germany 20 July 2012 Monaco
Alysha Newman   Canada 24 August 2019 Paris [42]
21 4.81 m (15 ft 9+14 in) Alana Boyd   Australia 12 June 2008 Ostrava [43]
Tina Šutej   Slovenia 16 September 2023 Eugene [44]
23 4.80 m (15 ft 8+34 in) Martina Strutz   Germany 30 August 2011 Daegu
Angelica Bengtsson   Sweden 29 September 2019 Doha
25 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in) Tatyana Polnova   Russia 19 September 2004 Monaco
Nicole Büchler    Switzerland 6 May 2016 Doha

Men (indoor) edit

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 6.22 m (20 ft 4+34 in) Armand Duplantis   Sweden 25 February 2023 Clermont-Ferrand [45]
2 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) Duplantis #2 20 March 2022 Belgrade [46]
3 6.19 m (20 ft 3+12 in) Duplantis #3 7 March 2022 Belgrade [47]
4 6.18 m (20 ft 3+14 in) Duplantis #4 15 February 2020 Glasgow
5 6.17 m (20 ft 2+34 in) Duplantis #5 8 February 2020 Toruń
2 6 6.16 m (20 ft 2+12 in) Renaud Lavillenie   France 15 February 2014 Donetsk [48]
3 7 6.15 m (20 ft 2 in) Sergey Bubka   Ukraine 21 February 1993 Donetsk
8 6.14 m (20 ft 1+12 in) Bubka #2 13 February 1993 Liévin
9 6.13 m (20 ft 1+14 in) Bubka #3 21 February 1992 Berlin
10 6.12 m (20 ft 34 in) Bubka #4 23 March 1991 Grenoble
11 6.11 m (20 ft 12 in) Bubka #5 19 March 1991 Donetsk
12 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in) Bubka #6 15 March 1991 San Sebastián
Duplantis #6 24 February 2021 Belgrade
Duplantis #7 2 February 2023 Uppsala [49]
15 6.08 m (19 ft 11+14 in) Bubka #7 9 February 1991 Volgograd
Lavillenie #2 31 January 2014 Bydgoszcz
17 6.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in) Duplantis #8 19 February 2020 Liévin
4 18 6.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in) Steve Hooker   Australia 7 February 2009 Boston
18 6.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in) Lavillenie #3 27 February 2021 Aubière
Duplantis #9 10 February 2023 Berlin [50]
21 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in) Bubka #8 17 March 1990 Donetsk
Bubka #9 5 March 1993 Berlin
Bubka #10 6 February 1994 Grenoble
Duplantis #10 7 March 2021 Toruń
Duplantis #11 19 February 2022 Birmingham [51]
5 21 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in) Chris Nilsen   United States 5 March 2022 Rouen [52][53]
21 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in) Duplantis #12 3 March 2024 Glasgow [54]
6 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in) Radion Gataullin   Soviet Union 4 February 1989 Gomel
Jeff Hartwig   United States 10 March 2002 Sindelfingen
8 6.01 m (19 ft 8+12 in) Sam Kendricks   United States 8 February 2020 Rouen
9 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) Maksim Tarasov   Russia 5 February 1999 Budapest
Jean Galfione   France 6 March 1999 Maebashi
Danny Ecker   Germany 11 February 2001 Dortmund
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) A Shawnacy Barber   Canada 15 January 2016 Reno
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) Piotr Lisek   Poland 4 February 2017 Potsdam
KC Lightfoot   United States 13 February 2021 Lubbock [55]
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) A Sondre Guttormsen   Norway 10 March 2023 Albuquerque [56]
16 5.96 m (19 ft 6+12 in) Lawrence Johnson   United States 3 March 2001 Atlanta
Menno Vloon   Netherlands 27 February 2021 Aubière
18 5.95 m (19 ft 6+14 in) Tim Lobinger   Germany 18 February 2000 Chemnitz
Thiago Braz   Brazil 20 March 2022 Belgrade [57]
20 5.94 m (19 ft 5+34 in) Philippe Collet   France 10 March 1990 Grenoble
21 5.93 m (19 ft 5+14 in) Billy Olson   United States 8 February 1986 East Rutherford
Tye Harvey   United States 3 March 2001 Atlanta
23 5.92 m (19 ft 5 in) Igor Potapovich   Kazakhstan 19 February 1998 Stockholm
Björn Otto   Germany 18 February 2012 Potsdam
25 5.91 m (19 ft 4+12 in) Joe Dial   United States 1 February 1986 Columbia
Viktor Ryzhenkov   Soviet Union 15 March 1991 San Sebastián
Timur Morgunov   Authorised Neutral Athletes 29 August 2018 Zürich
Ernest John Obiena   Philippines 5 March 2022 Rouen [58]
2 February 2023 Uppsala [49]
Kurtis Marschall   Australia 25 February 2023 Clermont-Ferrand [45]
5.91 m (19 ft 4+12 in) A Zach Bradford   United States 10 March 2023 Albuquerque [56]

Women (indoor) edit

Ath.# Perf.# Mark Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 5.03 m (16 ft 6 in) Jennifer Suhr   United States 30 January 2016 Brockport [59]
2 5.02 m (16 ft 5+12 in) A Suhr #2 2 March 2013 Albuquerque
2 3 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in) Yelena Isinbayeva   Russia 23 February 2012 Stockholm
4 5.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in) Isinbayeva #2 15 February 2009 Donetsk
5 4.97 m (16 ft 3+12 in) Isinbayeva #3 15 February 2009 Donetsk
6 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Isinbayeva #4 16 February 2008 Donetsk
3 6 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Sandi Morris   United States 12 March 2016 Portland
6 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Morris #2 3 March 2018 Birmingham
3 6 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) Anzhelika Sidorova   Authorised Neutral Athletes 29 February 2020 Moscow [60]
5 10 4.94 m (16 ft 2+14 in) Katie Nageotte   United States 11 June 2021 Marietta
11 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in) Isinbayeva #5 10 February 2007 Donetsk
12 4.92 m (16 ft 1+12 in) Sidorova #2 25 February 2020 Moscow
13 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Isinbayeva #6 12 February 2006 Donetsk
Suhr #3 16 January 2016 Kent
13 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) A Nageotte #2 18 February 2018 Albuquerque
13 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Sidorova #3 8 February 2019 Madrid
Morris #3 8 February 2020 New York City
6 13 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) Nina Kennedy   Australia 30 August 2023 Zürich [61]
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Isinbayeva #7 6 March 2005 Madrid
Isinbayeva #8 26 February 2009 Prague
7 19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Katerina Stefanidi   Greece 20 February 2016 New York City [62]
Demi Payne   United States 20 February 2016 New York City [62]
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Suhr #4 12 March 2016 Portland
Suhr #5 17 March 2016 Portland
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) A Morris #4 12 January 2018 Reno
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Sidorova #4 3 March 2018 Birmingham
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) A Morris #5 15 February 2020 Albuquerque
19 4.90 m (16 ft 34 in) Sidorova #5 21 February 2021 Moscow
9 4.87 m (15 ft 11+12 in) Holly Bradshaw   Great Britain 20 January 2012 Villeurbanne
10 4.86 m (15 ft 11+14 in) Molly Caudery   Great Britain 24 February 2024 Rouen [63]
11 4.85 m (15 ft 10+34 in) Svetlana Feofanova   Russia 22 February 2004 Peania
Anna Rogowska   Poland 6 March 2011 Paris
13 4.84 m (15 ft 10+12 in) Eliza McCartney   New Zealand 10 February 2024 Liévin [64]
14 4.83 m (15 ft 10 in) Fabiana Murer   Brazil 7 February 2015 Nevers
Alysha Newman   Canada 22 February 2024 Clermont-Ferrand [65]
16 4.82 m (15 ft 9+34 in) Yarisley Silva   Cuba 24 April 2013 Des Moines
Tina Šutej   Slovenia 2 February 2023 Ostrava [49]
18 4.81 m (15 ft 9+14 in) Stacy Dragila   United States 6 March 2004 Budapest
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou   Greece 17 February 2016 Stockholm
Angelica Bengtsson   Sweden 24 February 2019 Clermont-Ferrand [66]
Polina Knoroz   Authorised Neutral Athletes 19 February 2022 Clermont-Ferrand [67]
Wilma Murto   Finland 6 January 2024 Kuortane [68]
23 4.80 m (15 ft 8+34 in) Nicole Büchler    Switzerland 17 March 2016 Portland
Iryna Zhuk   Belarus 17 February 2022 Liévin [69]
25 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in) Robeilys Peinado   Venezuela 19 February 2020 Liévin [70]
Olivia Gruver   United States 7 February 2021 Fayetteville [71]

Six metres club edit

The "six metres club" consists of pole vaulters who have reached at least 6.00 metres.[72] In 1985 Sergey Bubka became the first pole vaulter to clear six metres.

Mark Athlete Nation Outdoors Indoors Year first
cleared
6 metres
6.23 Armand Duplantis   Sweden 6.23 6.22 2018
6.16 Renaud Lavillenie   France 6.05 6.16 2009
6.15 Sergey Bubka   Soviet Union /   Ukraine 6.14 6.15 1985
6.07 KC Lightfoot   United States 6.07 6.00 2021
6.06 Steve Hooker   Australia 6.00 6.06 2008
Sam Kendricks   United States 6.06 6.01 2017
6.05 Maksim Tarasov   Russia 6.05 6.00 1997
Dmitri Markov   Belarus /   Australia 6.05 5.85 1998
Chris Nilsen   United States 6.00 6.05 2022
6.04 Brad Walker   United States 6.04 5.86 2006
6.03 Okkert Brits   South Africa 6.03 5.90 1995
Jeff Hartwig   United States 6.03 6.02 1998
Thiago Braz   Brazil 6.03 5.95 2016
6.02 Radion Gataullin   Soviet Union /   Russia 6.00 6.02 1989
Piotr Lisek   Poland 6.02 6.00 2017
6.01 Igor Trandenkov   Russia 6.01 5.90 1996
Timothy Mack   United States 6.01 5.85 2004
Yevgeny Lukyanenko   Russia 6.01 5.90 2008
Björn Otto   Germany 6.01 5.92 2012
6.00 Tim Lobinger   Germany 6.00 5.95 1997
Jean Galfione   France 5.98 6.00 1999
Danny Ecker   Germany 5.93 6.00 2001
Toby Stevenson   United States 6.00 5.81 2004
Paul Burgess   Australia 6.00 5.80 2005
Shawnacy Barber   Canada 5.93 6.00 2016
Timur Morgunov   Authorised Neutral Athletes 6.00 5.91 2018
Sondre Guttormsen   Norway 5.86 6.00 2023
Ernest John Obiena   Philippines 6.00 5.91 2023

Five metres club edit

Four women have cleared 5 metres. Yelena Isinbayeva was the first to clear 5.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in) on 22 July 2005. On 2 March 2013, Jennifer Suhr cleared 5.02 m (16 ft 5+12 in) indoors to become the second. Sandi Morris cleared 5.00 meters on 9 September 2016, to become the third. Anzhelika Sidorova cleared 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in) at the Diamond League final in Zürich on 9 September 2021.

Mark Athlete Nation Outdoors Indoors Year first

cleared 5 metres

5.06 Yelena Isinbayeva   Russia 5.06 5.01 2005
5.03 Jennifer Suhr   United States 4.93 5.03 2013
5.01 Anzhelika Sidorova   Authorised Neutral Athletes 5.01 4.95 2021
5.00 Sandi Morris   United States 5.00 4.95 2016

Milestones edit

This is a list of the first time a milestone mark was cleared.[73]

Mark Athlete Nation Date
13 ft (3.96 m) Robert Gardner   United States 1 June 1912
4 m (13 ft 1+12 in) Marc Wright   United States 8 June 1912
14 ft (4.27 m) Sabin Carr   United States 27 May 1927
4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) William Sefton[74]   United States 29 May 1937
15 ft (4.57 m) Cornelius "Dutch" Warmerdam   United States 13 April 1940
16 ft (4.88 m) John Uelses   United States 31 March 1962
5 m (16 ft 5 in) Brian Sternberg   United States 27 April 1963
17 ft (5.18 m) John Pennel   United States 24 August 1963
18 ft (5.49 m) Christos Papanikolaou   Greece 24 October 1970
5.5 m (18 ft 12 in) Kjell Isaksson   Sweden 8 April 1972
19 ft (5.79 m) Thierry Vigneron   France 20 June 1981
6 m (19 ft 8 in) Sergey Bubka   Soviet Union 13 July 1985
20 ft (6.10 m) Sergey Bubka   Soviet Union 16 March 1991 (indoors)
5 August 1991 (outdoors)

This is a list of the first-time milestones for women.

Mark Athlete Nation Date
4 m (13 ft 1+12 in) Zhang Chunzhen   China 24 March 1991
14 ft (4.27 m) Emma George[75]   Australia 17 December 1995
4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) Emma George   Australia 8 February 1997
15 ft (4.57 m) Emma George[76]   Australia 14 March 1998
16 ft (4.88 m) Svetlana Feofanova   Russia 4 July 2004
5 m (16 ft 5 in) Yelena Isinbayeva   Russia 22 July 2005

Olympic medalists edit

Men edit

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1896 Athens
details
William Hoyt
  United States
Albert Tyler
  United States
Evangelos Damaskos
  Greece
Ioannis Theodoropoulos
  Greece
1900 Paris
details
Irving Baxter
  United States
Meredith Colket
  United States
Carl Albert Andersen
  Norway
1904 St. Louis
details
Charles Dvorak
  United States
LeRoy Samse
  United States
Louis Wilkins
  United States
1908 London
details
Edward Cook
  United States
none awarded Edward Archibald
  Canada
Clare Jacobs
  United States
Alfred Gilbert
  United States
Bruno Söderström
  Sweden
1912 Stockholm
details
Harry Babcock
  United States
Frank Nelson
  United States
William Halpenny
  Canada
Frank Murphy
  United States
Marc Wright
  United States
Bertil Uggla
  Sweden
1920 Antwerp
details
Frank Foss
  United States
Henry Petersen
  Denmark
Edwin Myers
  United States
1924 Paris
details
Lee Barnes
  United States
Glenn Graham
  United States
James Brooker
  United States
1928 Amsterdam
details
Sabin Carr
  United States
William Droegemueller
  United States
Charles McGinnis
  United States
1932 Los Angeles
details
Bill Miller
  United States
Shuhei Nishida
  Japan
George Jefferson
  United States
1936 Berlin
details
Earle Meadows
  United States
Shuhei Nishida
  Japan
Sueo Ōe
  Japan
1948 London
details
Guinn Smith
  United States
Erkki Kataja
  Finland
Bob Richards
  United States
1952 Helsinki
details
Bob Richards
  United States
Don Laz
  United States
Ragnar Lundberg
  Sweden
1956 Melbourne
details
Bob Richards
  United States
Bob Gutowski
  United States
Georgios Roubanis
  Greece
1960 Rome
details
Don Bragg
  United States
Ron Morris
  United States
Eeles Landström
  Finland
1964 Tokyo
details
Fred Hansen
  United States
Wolfgang Reinhardt
  United Team of Germany
Klaus Lehnertz
  United Team of Germany
1968 Mexico City
details
Bob Seagren
  United States
Claus Schiprowski
  West Germany
Wolfgang Nordwig
  East Germany
1972 Munich
details
Wolfgang Nordwig
  East Germany
Bob Seagren
  United States
Jan Johnson
  United States
1976 Montreal
details
Tadeusz Ślusarski
  Poland
Antti Kalliomäki
  Finland
David Roberts
  United States
1980 Moscow
details
Władysław Kozakiewicz
  Poland
Tadeusz Ślusarski
  Poland
none awarded
Konstantin Volkov
  Soviet Union
1984 Los Angeles
details
Pierre Quinon
  France
Mike Tully
  United States
Earl Bell
  United States
Thierry Vigneron
  France
1988 Seoul
details
Sergey Bubka
  Soviet Union
Radion Gataullin
  Soviet Union
Grigoriy Yegorov
  Soviet Union
1992 Barcelona
details
Maksim Tarasov
  Unified Team
Igor Trandenkov
  Unified Team
Javier García
  Spain
1996 Atlanta
details
Jean Galfione
  France
Igor Trandenkov
  Russia
Andrei Tivontchik
  Germany
2000 Sydney
details
Nick Hysong
  United States
Lawrence Johnson
  United States
Maksim Tarasov
  Russia
2004 Athens
details
Timothy Mack
  United States
Toby Stevenson
  United States
Giuseppe Gibilisco
  Italy
2008 Beijing
details
Steve Hooker
  Australia
Yevgeny Lukyanenko
  Russia
Derek Miles
  United States
2012 London
details
Renaud Lavillenie
  France
Björn Otto
  Germany
Raphael Holzdeppe
  Germany
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Thiago Braz
  Brazil
Renaud Lavillenie
  France
Sam Kendricks
  United States
2020 Tokyo
details
Armand Duplantis
  Sweden
Chris Nilsen
  United States
Thiago Braz
  Brazil
2024 Paris
details

Women edit

Games Gold Silver Bronze
2000 Sydney
details
Stacy Dragila
  United States
Tatiana Grigorieva
  Australia
Vala Flosadóttir
  Iceland
2004 Athens
details
Yelena Isinbayeva
  Russia
Svetlana Feofanova
  Russia
Anna Rogowska
  Poland
2008 Beijing
details
Yelena Isinbayeva
  Russia
Jennifer Stuczynski
  United States
Svetlana Feofanova
  Russia
2012 London
details
Jennifer Suhr
  United States
Yarisley Silva
  Cuba
Yelena Isinbayeva
  Russia
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Katerina Stefanidi
  Greece
Sandi Morris
  United States
Eliza McCartney
  New Zealand
2020 Tokyo
details
Katie Nageotte
  United States
Anzhelika Sidorova
  ROC
Holly Bradshaw
  Great Britain
2024 Paris
details

World Championships medalists edit

Men edit

Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
  Sergey Bubka (URS)   Konstantin Volkov (URS)   Atanas Tarev (BUL)
1987 Rome
details
  Sergey Bubka (URS)   Thierry Vigneron (FRA)   Radion Gataullin (URS)
1991 Tokyo
details
  Sergey Bubka (URS)   István Bagyula (HUN)   Maksim Tarasov (URS)
1993 Stuttgart
details
  Sergey Bubka (UKR)   Grigoriy Yegorov (KAZ)   Maksim Tarasov (RUS)
  Igor Trandenkov (RUS)
1995 Gothenburg
details
  Sergey Bubka (UKR)   Maksim Tarasov (RUS)   Jean Galfione (FRA)
1997 Athens
details
  Sergey Bubka (UKR)   Maksim Tarasov (RUS)   Dean Starkey (USA)
1999 Seville
details
  Maksim Tarasov (RUS)   Dmitri Markov (AUS)   Aleksandr Averbukh (ISR)
2001 Edmonton
details
  Dmitri Markov (AUS)   Aleksandr Averbukh (ISR)   Nick Hysong (USA)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
  Giuseppe Gibilisco (ITA)   Okkert Brits (RSA)   Patrik Kristiansson (SWE)
2005 Helsinki
details
  Rens Blom (NED)   Brad Walker (USA)   Pavel Gerasimov (RUS)
2007 Osaka
details
  Brad Walker (USA)   Romain Mesnil (FRA)   Danny Ecker (GER)
2009 Berlin
details
  Steve Hooker (AUS)   Romain Mesnil (FRA)   Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)
2011 Daegu
details
  Paweł Wojciechowski (POL)   Lázaro Borges (CUB)   Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)
2013 Moscow
details
  Raphael Holzdeppe (GER)   Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)   Björn Otto (GER)
2015 Beijing
details
  Shawnacy Barber (CAN)   Raphael Holzdeppe (GER)   Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)
  Pawel Wojciechowski (POL)
  Piotr Lisek (POL)
2017 London
details
  Sam Kendricks (USA)   Piotr Lisek (POL)   Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)
2019 Doha
details
  Sam Kendricks (USA)   Armand Duplantis (SWE)   Piotr Lisek (POL)
2022 Eugene
details
  Armand Duplantis (SWE)   Christopher Nilsen (USA)   Ernest John Obiena (PHL)
2023 Budapest
details
  Armand Duplantis (SWE)   Ernest John Obiena (PHL)   Kurtis Marschall (AUS)
  Christopher Nilsen (USA)

Women edit

Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1999 Seville
details
  Stacy Dragila (USA)   Anzhela Balakhonova (UKR)   Tatiana Grigorieva (AUS)
2001 Edmonton
details
  Stacy Dragila (USA)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)   Monika Pyrek (POL)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
  Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)   Annika Becker (GER)   Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)
2005 Helsinki
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Monika Pyrek (POL)   Pavla Hamáčková (CZE)
2007 Osaka
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Kateřina Baďurová (CZE)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)
2009 Berlin
details
  Anna Rogowska (POL)   Chelsea Johnson (USA)
  Monika Pyrek (POL)
none awarded
2011 Daegu
details
  Fabiana Murer (BRA)   Martina Strutz (GER)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)
2013 Moscow
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Jenn Suhr (USA)   Yarisley Silva (CUB)
2015 Beijing
details
  Yarisley Silva (CUB)   Fabiana Murer (BRA)   Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou (GRE)
2017 London
details
  Ekaterini Stefanidi (GRE)   Sandi Morris (USA)   Robeilys Peinado (VEN)
  Yarisley Silva (CUB)
2019 Doha
details
  Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA)   Sandi Morris (USA)   Katerina Stefanidi (GRE)
2022 Eugene
details
  Katie Nageotte (USA)   Sandi Morris (USA)   Nina Kennedy (AUS)
2023 Budapest
details
  Katie Moon (USA)
  Nina Kennedy (AUS)
none awarded   Wilma Murto (FIN)

World Indoor Championships medalists edit

Men edit

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Paris[A]
details
  Sergei Bubka (URS)   Thierry Vigneron (FRA)   Vasiliy Bubka (URS)
1987 Indianapolis
details
  Sergei Bubka (URS)   Earl Bell (USA)   Thierry Vigneron (FRA)
1989 Budapest
details
  Radion Gataullin (URS)   Grigoriy Yegorov (URS)   Joe Dial (USA)
1991 Seville
details
  Sergei Bubka (URS)   Viktor Ryzhenkov (URS)   Ferenc Salbert (FRA)
1993 Toronto
details
  Radion Gataullin (RUS)   Grigoriy Yegorov (KAZ)   Jean Galfione (FRA)
1995 Barcelona
details
  Sergei Bubka (UKR)   Igor Potapovich (KAZ)   Okkert Brits (RSA)
  Andrei Tivontchik (GER)
1997 Paris
details
  Igor Potapovich (KAZ)   Lawrence Johnson (USA)   Maksim Tarasov (RUS)
1999 Maebashi
details
  Jean Galfione (FRA)   Jeff Hartwig (USA)   Danny Ecker (GER)
2001 Lisbon
details
  Lawrence Johnson (USA)   Tye Harvey (USA)   Romain Mesnil (FRA)
2003 Birmingham
details
  Tim Lobinger (GER)   Michael Stolle (GER)   Rens Blom (NED)
2004 Budapest
details
  Igor Pavlov (RUS)   Adam Ptáček (CZE)   Denys Yurchenko (UKR)
2006 Moscow
details
  Brad Walker (USA)   Alhaji Jeng (SWE)   Tim Lobinger (GER)
2008 Valencia
details
  Yevgeny Lukyanenko (RUS)   Brad Walker (USA)   Steve Hooker (AUS)
2010 Doha
details
  Steve Hooker (AUS)   Malte Mohr (GER)   Alexander Straub (GER)
2012 Istanbul
details
  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)   Björn Otto (GER)   Brad Walker (USA)
2014 Sopot
details
  Konstadinos Filippidis (GRE)   Malte Mohr (GER)   Jan Kudlička (CZE)
2016 Portland
details
  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)   Sam Kendricks (USA)   Piotr Lisek (POL)
2018 Birmingham
details
  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA)   Sam Kendricks (USA)   Piotr Lisek (POL)
2022 Belgrade
details
  Armand Duplantis (SWE)   Thiago Braz (BRA)   Chris Nilsen (USA)
2024 Glasgow
details
  Armand Duplantis (SWE)   Sam Kendricks (USA)   Emmanouil Karalis (GRE)
  • A Known as the World Indoor Games

Women edit

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1997 Paris
details
  Stacy Dragila (USA)   Emma George (AUS)   Cai Weiyan (CHN)
1999 Maebashi
details
  Nastja Ryshich (GER)   Vala Flosadóttir (ISL)   Nicole Humbert (GER)
  Zsuzsanna Szabó-Olgyai (HUN)
2001 Lisbon
details
  Pavla Hamáčková (CZE)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)
  Kellie Suttle (USA)
none awarded
2003 Birmingham
details
  Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)   Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Monika Pyrek (POL)
2004 Budapest
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Stacy Dragila (USA)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)
2006 Moscow
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Anna Rogowska (POL)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)
2008 Valencia
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Jennifer Stuczynski (USA)   Fabiana Murer (BRA)
  Monika Pyrek (POL)
2010 Doha
details
  Fabiana Murer (BRA)   Svetlana Feofanova (RUS)   Anna Rogowska (POL)
2012 Istanbul
details
  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS)   Vanessa Boslak (FRA)   Holly Bleasdale (GBR)
2014 Sopot
details
  Yarisley Silva (CUB)   Anzhelika Sidorova (RUS)
  Jiřina Svobodová (CZE)
none awarded
2016 Portland
details
  Jennifer Suhr (USA)   Sandi Morris (USA)   Katerina Stefanidi (GRE)
2018 Birmingham
details
  Sandi Morris (USA)   Anzhelika Sidorova (ANA)   Katerina Stefanidi (GRE)
2022 Belgrade
details
  Sandi Morris (USA)   Katie Nageotte (USA)   Tina Šutej (SLO)
2024 Glasgow
details
  Molly Caudery (GBR)   Eliza McCartney (NZL)   Katie Moon (USA)

Season's bests edit

See also edit

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ Rosenbaum, Mike. Yelena Isinbayeva: Pole Vault Record-Breaker Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. About Track and Field. Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
  2. ^ Rudman, Steve (31 May 2013). Huskies vault legend Brian Sternberg (1943–13). Sports Press NW. Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
  3. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 21 p. 978 (1910)
  4. ^ "Info". Polsstokverspringen/ Fierljeppen Holland. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. ^ Turnbull, Simon (13 June 2009). Kate Dennison: 'It helps being a little bit crazy'. The Independent. Retrieved on 15 June 2009.
  6. ^ "12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009" (PDF). Monte Carlo: IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 546. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  7. ^ McCormick, Matthew (26 February 2014) "Soaring to New Heights: The Evolution of Pole Vaulting and Pole Materials" Retrieved on 19 Feb 2024.
  8. ^ McGinnis, Peter (December 2015). "Mechanics of the pole vault" (PDF). usatf.org.
  9. ^ "How to Do the Pole Vault in Track and Field". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
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  30. ^ Michael McCleary. "Watch Coyotes alum Chris Nilsen eclipse 6 meters competing at University of South Dakota". argusleader.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
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  34. ^ "Pole Vault Results" (PDF). IAAF. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  35. ^ Jon Mulkeen (18 July 2018). "McCartney vaults world-leading 4.94m in Jockgrim". IAAF. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
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  38. ^ Eduardo Biscayart (3 July 2016). "Murer soars over South American record of 4.87m at Brazilian Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
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  55. ^ "KC Lightfoot Soars 6.00m to Smash his own NCAA Pole Vault Record". watchathletics.com. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
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  66. ^ Jon Mulkeen; Bob Ramsak (25 February 2019). "Indoor round-up: Brazier clocks 600m world best in New York, Lisek and Kendricks clear 5.93m world lead in Clermont-Ferrand". IAAF. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  67. ^ "2022 All Star Perche by Quartus Results". World Athletics. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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  69. ^ Jon Mulkeen (17 February 2022). "Ingebrigtsen breaks world indoor 1500m record in Liévin". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
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  71. ^ "American Track League #3 Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  72. ^ US unit calculator for unofficial mark conversions in athletic events, hosted by USATF.org
  73. ^ "Track and Field Statistics". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  74. ^ Note: Earle Meadows cleared the same height minutes later in the same competition
  75. ^ Note: George cleared 4.28 m (14 ft 12 in)
  76. ^ Note: George cleared 4.58 m (15 ft 14 in)

External links edit