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 was already practiced by the ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks and the ancient Irish people, although modern pole vaulting, an athletic contest where height is measured, was first established by the German teacher Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths in the 1790s.[1] It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 2000 for women.

Quick Facts Athletics, World records ...
Athletics
Pole vault
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Vaulting phases of world record holder Armand Duplantis
World records
MenSweden Armand Duplantis 6.26 m (20 ft 6+14 in) (2024)
WomenRussia Yelena Isinbayeva 5.06 m (16 ft 7 in) (2009)
Olympic records
MenSweden Armand Duplantis 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in) (2024)
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)
World Indoor Championship records
MenSweden Armand Duplantis 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (2022)
WomenUnited States Sandi Morris 4.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in) (2018)
Close

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.[2][3] Physical attributes such as speed, agility and strength, along with technical skill, are essential to pole vaulting.

History

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Robert Musgrave of Keswick (1841-1901), the first man to clear more than ten feet in the pole vault.
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Pole vault in the 1890s at US Naval Academy

Pole jumping was already practiced by the ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks and the ancient Irish people.[1][4] As depicted on stone engravings and artifacts dating back to c. 2500 BC, the Egyptians used spears to mount enemy structures, and to pass over irrigation ditches. Vases and pots from Greece show that poles were used by the locals to jump onto or over objects. From c. 1800 BC to c. 550 BC, a sport akin to pole vaulting was probably included in the Irish Tailteann Games, although the pole might have been used for gaining distance rather than height, as ancient Irish farmers used poles to jump over canals and rivers. Modern pole vaulting, an athletic contest where height is measured, was first established by the German teacher Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths in the 1790s.[1][4] GutsMuths is also considered by many to be the father of modern pole vaulting, as he described jumping standards, the distance of the approach, recommendations on hand grip, and the principles of pole jumping.[4] It was first practiced as a sport in Germany,[1] later spreading to the United Kingdom and the United States.[4] The earliest recorded pole vaulting competition in England where height was measured took place at the Ulverston Football and Cricket Club, Lancashire, north of the sands, in 1843.[5] Pole vault was one of the athletics events of the inaugural Olympic Games in 1896.[1]

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).

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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

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.

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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 clears 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.

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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 time starts when the official deems the standards to be set, ready for the athlete to attempt their jump. When every athlete is still in the competition, each vaulter has one minute to complete their jump. When 3 athletes are remaining the time moves to 2 minutes. 2 athletes remaining gets 3 minutes. After the final jumper remains, he or she gets 5 minutes on the runway. 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

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

Phases of pole vaulting
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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 his arms, face and any other appendages do not knock the bar off as they go over. Vaulters aim to whip their upper torso around the top of the cross bar to ensure their elbows and face do not 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

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

Men (outdoor)

More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#MarkAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
1 1 6.26 m (20 ft 6+14 in) Armand Duplantis  Sweden 25 August 2024 Chorzów [14]
26.25 m (20 ft 6 in)Duplantis #25 August 2024Saint-Denis[15]
3 6.24 m (20 ft 5+12 in) Duplantis #3 20 April 2024 Xiamen [16]
4 6.23 m (20 ft 5+14 in) Duplantis #4 17 September 2023 Eugene [17]
5 6.21 m (20 ft 4+14 in) Duplantis #5 24 July 2022 Eugene
6 6.16 m (20 ft 2+12 in) Duplantis #6 30 June 2022 Stockholm [18]
7 6.15 m (20 ft 2 in) Duplantis #7 17 September 2020 Rome
Duplantis #8 21 August 2024 Lausanne [19]
296.14 m (20 ft 1+12 in) ASergey Bubka Ukraine31 July 1994Sestriere
106.13 m (20 ft 1+14 in)Bubka #219 September 1992Tokyo
116.12 m (20 ft 34 in)Bubka #330 August 1992Padua
Duplantis #927 June 2023Ostrava[20]
136.11 m (20 ft 12 in)Bubka #413 June 1992Dijon
Duplantis #104 June 2023Hengelo[21]
Duplantis #1113 September 2024Brussels
156.10 m (20 ft 0 in)Bubka #55 August 1991Malmö
Duplantis #126 June 2021Hengelo
Duplantis #13 6 August 2022 Chorzów [22]
Duplantis #14 25 August 2022 Lausanne [23]
Duplantis #15 26 August 2023 Budapest [24]
Duplantis #16 8 September 2023 Brussels [25]
Duplantis #17 12 June 2024 Rome [26]
226.09 m (19 ft 11+34 in)Bubka #68 July 1991Formia
236.08 m (19 ft 11+14 in)Bubka #79 June 1991Moscow
246.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in)Bubka #86 May 1991Shizuoka
Duplantis #182 September 2020Lausanne
Duplantis #19 8 September 2022 Zürich [27]
3 24 6.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in) KC Lightfoot  United States 2 June 2023 Nashville [28]
46.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in)Sam Kendricks United States27 July 2019Des Moines[29]
56.05 m (19 ft 10 in)Maksim Tarasov Russia16 June 1999Athens
Dmitri Markov Australia9 August 2001Edmonton
Renaud Lavillenie France30 May 2015Eugene
86.04 m (19 ft 9+34 in)Brad Walker United States8 June 2008Eugene
96.03 m (19 ft 9+14 in)Okkert Brits South Africa18 August 1995Cologne
Jeff Hartwig United States14 June 2000Jonesboro
Thiago Braz Brazil15 August 2016Rio de Janeiro[30]
126.02 m (19 ft 9 in)Piotr Lisek Poland12 July 2019Monaco[31]
136.01 m (19 ft 8+12 in)Igor Trandenkov Russia3 July 1996St. Petersburg
Timothy Mack United States18 September 2004Monaco
Yevgeny Lukyanenko Russia1 July 2008Bydgoszcz
Björn Otto Germany5 September 2012Aachen
176.00 m (19 ft 8 in)Radion Gataullin Soviet Union16 September 1989Tokyo
Tim Lobinger Germany24 August 1997Cologne
Toby Stevenson United States8 May 2004Modesto
Paul Burgess Australia26 February 2005Perth
Steve Hooker Australia27 January 2008Perth
Timur Morgunov Authorised Neutral Athletes12 August 2018Berlin[32]
Chris Nilsen United States6 May 2022Sioux Falls[33]
Ernest John Obiena  Philippines 10 June 2023 Bergen [34]
Emmanouil Karalis Greece25 August 2024Chorzów[14]
Close

Women (outdoor)

More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#MarkAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
115.06 m (16 ft 7 in)Yelena Isinbayeva Russia28 August 2009Zürich
25.05 m (16 ft 6+34 in)Isinbayeva #218 August 2008Beijing
35.04 m (16 ft 6+14 in)Isinbayeva #329 July 2008Monaco
45.03 m (16 ft 6 in)Isinbayeva #411 July 2008Rome
55.01 m (16 ft 5 in)Isinbayeva #512 August 2005Helsinki
255.01 m (16 ft 5 in)Anzhelika Sidorova Authorised Neutral Athletes9 September 2021Zürich[35]
75.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in)Isinbayeva #622 July 2005London
375.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in)Sandi Morris United States9 September 2016Brussels[36]
94.96 m (16 ft 3+14 in)Isinbayeva #722 July 2005London
104.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Isinbayeva #816 July 2005Madrid
Morris #227 July 2018Greenville
Sidorova #229 September 2019Doha[37]
4104.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Katie Moon United States26 June 2021Eugene
5144.94 m (16 ft 2+14 in)Eliza McCartney New Zealand17 July 2018Jockgrim[38]
154.93 m (16 ft 2 in)Isinbayeva #95 July 2005Lausanne
Isinbayeva #1026 August 2005Brussels
Isinbayeva #1125 July 2008London
Morris #323 July 2016Houston
6154.93 m (16 ft 2 in)Jennifer Suhr United States14 April 2018Austin
154.93 m (16 ft 2 in)Nageotte #223 May 2021Marietta
214.92 m (16 ft 1+12 in)Isinbayeva #123 September 2004Brussels
Suhr #26 July 2008Eugene
McCartney #223 June 2018Mannheim
Nageotte #31 August 2020Marietta
7 21 4.92 m (16 ft 1+12 in) Molly Caudery  Great Britain 22 June 2024 Toulouse [39]
84.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in)Yarisley Silva Cuba2 August 2015Beckum
Katerina Stefanidi Greece6 August 2017London[40]
104.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Holly Bradshaw Great Britain26 June 2021Manchester
Nina Kennedy Australia23 August 2023Budapest[41]
124.88 m (16 ft 0 in)Svetlana Feofanova Russia4 July 2004Herakleion
Angelica Moser   Switzerland 12 July 2024 Monaco [42]
144.87 m (15 ft 11+12 in)Fabiana Murer Brazil3 July 2016São Bernardo do Campo[43]
154.85 m (15 ft 10+34 in)Wilma Murto Finland17 August 2022Munich[44]
164.83 m (15 ft 10 in)Stacy Dragila United States8 June 2004Ostrava
Anna Rogowska Poland26 August 2005Brussels
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou Greece4 July 2015Paris[45]
Michaela Meijer Sweden1 August 2020Norrköping[46]
204.82 m (15 ft 9+34 in)Monika Pyrek Poland22 September 2007Stuttgart
Silke Spiegelburg Germany20 July 2012Monaco
Alysha Newman Canada24 August 2019Paris[47]
234.81 m (15 ft 9+14 in)Alana Boyd Australia12 June 2008Ostrava[48]
Tina Šutej Slovenia16 September 2023Eugene[49]
254.80 m (15 ft 8+34 in)Martina Strutz Germany30 August 2011Daegu
Angelica Bengtsson Sweden29 September 2019Doha
Polina Knoroz Russia15 June 2024Kazan[50]
Close

Men (indoor)

More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#MarkAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
1 1 6.22 m (20 ft 4+34 in) Armand Duplantis  Sweden 25 February 2023 Clermont-Ferrand [51]
2 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) Duplantis #2 20 March 2022 Belgrade [52]
3 6.19 m (20 ft 3+12 in) Duplantis #3 7 March 2022 Belgrade [53]
4 6.18 m (20 ft 3+14 in) Duplantis #4 15 February 2020 Glasgow
56.17 m (20 ft 2+34 in)Duplantis #58 February 2020Toruń
266.16 m (20 ft 2+12 in)Renaud Lavillenie France15 February 2014Donetsk[54]
376.15 m (20 ft 2 in)Sergey Bubka Ukraine21 February 1993Donetsk
86.14 m (20 ft 1+12 in)Bubka #213 February 1993Liévin
96.13 m (20 ft 1+14 in)Bubka #321 February 1992Berlin
106.12 m (20 ft 34 in)Bubka #423 March 1991Grenoble
116.11 m (20 ft 12 in)Bubka #519 March 1991Donetsk
126.10 m (20 ft 0 in)Bubka #615 March 1991San Sebastián
Duplantis #624 February 2021Belgrade
Duplantis #72 February 2023Uppsala[55]
156.08 m (19 ft 11+14 in)Bubka #79 February 1991Volgograd
Lavillenie #231 January 2014Bydgoszcz
176.07 m (19 ft 10+34 in)Duplantis #819 February 2020Liévin
4186.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in)Steve Hooker Australia7 February 2009Boston
186.06 m (19 ft 10+12 in)Lavillenie #327 February 2021Aubière
Duplantis #9 10 February 2023 Berlin [56]
216.05 m (19 ft 10 in)Bubka #817 March 1990Donetsk
Bubka #95 March 1993Berlin
Bubka #106 February 1994Grenoble
Duplantis #107 March 2021Toruń
Duplantis #1119 February 2022Birmingham[57]
5216.05 m (19 ft 10 in)Chris Nilsen United States5 March 2022Rouen[58][59]
216.05 m (19 ft 10 in)Duplantis #123 March 2024Glasgow[60]
66.02 m (19 ft 9 in)Radion Gataullin Soviet Union4 February 1989Gomel
Jeff Hartwig United States10 March 2002Sindelfingen
86.01 m (19 ft 8+12 in)Sam Kendricks United States8 February 2020Rouen
96.00 m (19 ft 8 in)Maksim Tarasov Russia5 February 1999Budapest
Jean Galfione France6 March 1999Maebashi
Danny Ecker Germany11 February 2001Dortmund
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) AShawnacy Barber Canada15 January 2016Reno
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)Piotr Lisek Poland4 February 2017Potsdam
KC Lightfoot United States13 February 2021Lubbock[61]
6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) A Sondre Guttormsen  Norway 10 March 2023 Albuquerque [62]
165.96 m (19 ft 6+12 in)Lawrence Johnson United States3 March 2001Atlanta
Menno Vloon Netherlands27 February 2021Aubière
185.95 m (19 ft 6+14 in)Tim Lobinger Germany18 February 2000Chemnitz
Thiago Braz Brazil20 March 2022Belgrade[63]
205.94 m (19 ft 5+34 in)Philippe Collet France10 March 1990Grenoble
215.93 m (19 ft 5+14 in)Billy Olson United States8 February 1986East Rutherford
Tye Harvey United States3 March 2001Atlanta
Ernest John Obiena Philippines23 February 2024Berlin[64]
245.92 m (19 ft 5 in)Igor Potapovich Kazakhstan19 February 1998Stockholm
Björn Otto Germany18 February 2012Potsdam
Close

Women (indoor)

More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#MarkAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
115.03 m (16 ft 6 in)Jennifer Suhr United States30 January 2016Brockport[65]
25.02 m (16 ft 5+12 in) ASuhr #22 March 2013Albuquerque
235.01 m (16 ft 5 in)Yelena Isinbayeva Russia23 February 2012Stockholm
45.00 m (16 ft 4+34 in)Isinbayeva #215 February 2009Donetsk
54.97 m (16 ft 3+12 in)Isinbayeva #315 February 2009Donetsk
64.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Isinbayeva #416 February 2008Donetsk
364.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Sandi Morris United States12 March 2016Portland
64.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Morris #23 March 2018Birmingham
364.95 m (16 ft 2+34 in)Anzhelika Sidorova Authorised Neutral Athletes29 February 2020Moscow[66]
5104.94 m (16 ft 2+14 in)Katie Moon United States11 June 2021Marietta
114.93 m (16 ft 2 in)Isinbayeva #510 February 2007Donetsk
124.92 m (16 ft 1+12 in)Sidorova #225 February 2020Moscow
134.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in)Isinbayeva #612 February 2006Donetsk
Suhr #316 January 2016Kent
134.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) ANageotte #218 February 2018Albuquerque
134.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in)Sidorova #38 February 2019Madrid
Morris #38 February 2020New York City
6134.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in)Nina Kennedy Australia30 August 2023Zürich[67]
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Isinbayeva #76 March 2005Madrid
Isinbayeva #826 February 2009Prague
7194.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Katerina Stefanidi Greece20 February 2016New York City[68]
Demi Payne United States20 February 2016New York City[68]
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Suhr #412 March 2016Portland
Suhr #517 March 2016Portland
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in) AMorris #412 January 2018Reno
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Sidorova #43 March 2018Birmingham
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in) AMorris #515 February 2020Albuquerque
194.90 m (16 ft 34 in)Sidorova #521 February 2021Moscow
94.87 m (15 ft 11+12 in)Holly Bradshaw Great Britain20 January 2012Villeurbanne
10 4.86 m (15 ft 11+14 in) Molly Caudery  Great Britain 24 February 2024 Rouen [69]
114.85 m (15 ft 10+34 in)Svetlana Feofanova Russia22 February 2004Peania
Anna Rogowska Poland6 March 2011Paris
134.84 m (15 ft 10+12 in)Eliza McCartney New Zealand10 February 2024Liévin[70]
144.83 m (15 ft 10 in)Fabiana Murer Brazil7 February 2015Nevers
Alysha Newman Canada22 February 2024Clermont-Ferrand[69]
164.82 m (15 ft 9+34 in)Yarisley Silva Cuba24 April 2013Des Moines
Tina Šutej Slovenia2 February 2023Ostrava[55]
184.81 m (15 ft 9+14 in)Stacy Dragila United States6 March 2004Budapest
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou Greece17 February 2016Stockholm
Angelica Bengtsson Sweden24 February 2019Clermont-Ferrand[71]
Polina Knoroz Authorised Neutral Athletes19 February 2022Clermont-Ferrand[72]
Wilma Murto  Finland 6 January 2024 Kuortane [73]
234.80 m (15 ft 8+34 in)Nicole Büchler  Switzerland17 March 2016Portland
Iryna Zhuk Belarus17 February 2022Liévin[74]
254.78 m (15 ft 8 in)Robeilys Peinado Venezuela19 February 2020Liévin[75]
Olivia Gruver United States7 February 2021Fayetteville[76]
Close

Six metres club

The "six metres club" consists of pole vaulters who have reached at least 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in).[77] In 1985 Sergey Bubka became the first pole vaulter to clear six metres.

More information Mark, Athlete ...
Mark Athlete Nation Outdoors Indoors Season first
cleared
6 metres
6.26 Armand Duplantis  Sweden 6.26 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
Emmanouil Karalis  Greece 6.00 5.86 2024
Close

Five metres club

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 m (16 ft 4+34 in) 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.

More information Mark, Athlete ...
Mark Athlete Nation Outdoors Indoors Season first
cleared
5 metres
5.06 Yelena Isinbayeva Russia5.065.01 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
Close

Milestones

This is a list of the first time a milestone mark was cleared.[78]

More information Mark, Athlete ...
Mark Athlete Nation Date
8 ft (2.44 m) John Roper  United Kingdom 17 April 1843
9 ft (2.75 m) Robert Dixon  United Kingdom 15 November 1848
10 ft (3.05 m) Robert Musgrave  United Kingdom 17 April 1854
11 ft (3.36 m) Edwin Woodburn  United Kingdom 21 July 1876
12 ft (3.66 m) Norman Dole  United States 23 April 1904
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[79]  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)
Close

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

More information Mark, Athlete ...
Mark Athlete Nation Date
4 m (13 ft 1+12 in) Zhang Chunzhen  China 24 March 1991
14 ft (4.27 m) Emma George[80]  Australia 17 December 1995
4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) Emma George  Australia 8 February 1997
15 ft (4.57 m) Emma George[81]  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
Close

Olympic medalists

Men

More information Games, Gold ...
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
Armand Duplantis
 Sweden
Sam Kendricks
 United States
Emmanouil Karalis
 Greece
Close

Women

World Championships medalists

Men

More information Championships, Gold ...
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)
Close

Women

World Indoor Championships medalists

Men

More information Games, Gold ...
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)
Close
  • A Known as the World Indoor Games

Women

Season's bests

More information Year, Mark ...
Close

See also

Notes and references

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