Pole Vault

Pole vault is an Olympic sport within the track and field disciplines of athletics, in which athletes aim to clear a horizontal bar using a flexible pole. This sport requires both technical skill and physical strength, and athletes utilize the bending and rebounding properties of the pole to increase their jump height. It combines aesthetic, strength, and technical elements.

The origins of pole vaulting trace back to Ancient Greece and Ancient Scandinavian societies. Poles used in those times to overcome obstacles gradually evolved into a sporting discipline. Modern pole vaulting became widespread in university sports in England during the 19th century and was included as an Olympic event for men at the 1896 Athens Olympics. Women's pole vault was first introduced to the Olympic program at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

1. Approach Run: The athlete runs toward the vaulting area with a steady rhythm and increasing speed while firmly holding the pole.
2. Planting the Pole: The athlete places the end of the pole into the vaulting box to transfer their kinetic energy into the pole.
3. Takeoff and Inversion: The pole bends and then recoils, propelling the athlete upward; the athlete then inverts their body to assume a back-up position.
4. Clearing the Bar: The athlete stretches their body and draws up their knees to pass over the bar in a controlled manner.
5. Landing: A soft landing is executed onto the mat, with balanced body control being essential during this phase.

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• Pole: Modern poles are made from carbon fiber, fiberglass, and composite materials. Their length varies between 4 and 5.5 meters depending on the athlete’s height and technique.
• Vaulting Box: A V-shaped metal area located at the end of the approach runway that secures the pole during planting.
• Bar: A lightweight and flexible rod made of fiber material; if the bar falls during the jump, the attempt is invalidated.
• Mat: Designed for safe landings, it is padded with thick, soft materials.
• Spiked Shoes: Used to maximize grip on the runway, featuring metal spikes on the soles.

• The athlete must correctly place the end of the pole into the vaulting box.
• An attempt is invalidated if the bar is knocked down, the pole is thrown outside the landing area, or an illegal landing is performed.
• Athletes are given three attempts at each height.
• A jump is considered valid if the pole does not fall out of the box and the bar remains on its supports.
• Wind assistance must remain within natural limits (maximum +2.0 m/s).

• Men: Armand Duplantis^【1】 (Sweden) – 6.27 meters (Paris Olympics)
• Women: Yelena Isinbayeva^【2】 (Russia) – 5.06 meters (Zurich, 28 August 2009)

• Armand Duplantis has broken the world record in pole vault multiple times, raising the bar to unprecedented heights in the sport’s history.
• In competitions, the bar height is typically increased in increments of 5 cm or 10 cm.