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- athletics
- decathlon
- heptathlon
pole vault
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What is pole vault in athletics?
Pole vaulting is a track and field sport where athletes use a long, flexible pole to jump over a high bar. Competitors run down a runway, plant the pole in a box, and vault themselves over the bar, landing in a cushioned pit.
Each vaulter has three attempts to clear a height, and the bar is raised until a winner is determined. Poles have evolved from wood to bamboo and now fiberglass, which gives a catapulting action. It requires coordination, speed, and gymnastic ability. Men's pole vaulting has been an Olympic event since 1896, and women's was added in 2000.
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How does an athlete perform a pole vault?
Pole vaulting involves athleticism, coordination, and timing. The athlete sprints approximately 40 meters with the pole, achieving maximum speed at takeoff. The vaulter then shifts to advance the pole toward the slideway while raising both hands above their head before leaving the ground. They plant the pole in the box and run off the ground, leaving their body hanging as long as possible.
The legs swing upward, shooting high above the crossbar as the body twists to face downward. The vaulter's forward speed carries them across the bar. Each vaulter has three attempts to clear a height. The bar rests on uprights and is raised until only one vaulter remains.
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What kind of pole is used in pole vaulting?
The poles used in pole vaulting have evolved significantly over time. Early vaulters used heavy, cumbersome poles made of solid ash, cedar, or hickory. Bamboo poles were introduced in 1904 and quickly gained popularity. By the early 1960s, glass fiber poles became the most effective and popular option. The constant improvement of fiberglass poles helped vaulters such as Sergey Bubka push the record over 20 feet in the 1990s. The pole may be of any length or diameter.
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What are the main rules in pole vault competitions?
In pole vaulting, athletes have three attempts to clear a height. A crossbar rests on uprights and falls if touched. The bar is raised until one vaulter remains. Ties are resolved using a "count back" based on the fewest failures at the final height, the fewest failures in the entire contest, or the fewest attempts throughout the competition.
Vaulters sprint down a runway with a pole, plant the pole's end in a box, then vault over a crossbar, landing in a cushioned pit. The pole can be made of any material and any length or diameter. Requirements of the athlete include a high degree of coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic ability.
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How do athletes train for the pole vault event?
Pole vaulters require coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic ability. Modern vaulters sprint approximately 40 meters with the pole before planting it in a box sunk into the ground.
The vaulter then runs off the ground, using the pole to catapult their body upward. As the body hangs, the legs swing up and to the side of the pole, lifting them above the crossbar. The vaulter twists to face downward, using forward momentum to clear the bar, landing in a cushioned pit.
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What skills and techniques make a successful pole vaulter?
A successful pole vaulter requires a combination of skills and techniques. Coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic ability are all important requirements.
The vaulter sprints down a runway of about 45 meters (150 feet) with the pole, plants the pole, and then propels themselves upward. The quick, catapulting action of the pole makes timing especially important. The legs swing upward, and the vaulter twists their body to face downward, clearing the crossbar with forward momentum.
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pole vault, sport in athletics (track and field) in which an athlete jumps over an obstacle with the aid of a pole. Originally a practical means of clearing objects, such as ditches, brooks, and fences, pole-vaulting for height became a competitive sport in the mid-19th century. An Olympic event for men since the first modern Games in 1896, a pole-vault event for women was added for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Rules and equipment
In competition, each vaulter is given three chances to clear a specified height. A bar rests on two uprights so that it will fall easily if touched. It is raised progressively until a winner emerges by process of elimination. Ties are broken by a “count back” based on fewest failures at the final height, fewest failures in the whole contest, or fewest attempts throughout the contest. The pole may be of any material: bamboo poles, introduced in 1904, quickly became more popular than heavier wooden poles; glass fiber became the most effective and popular by the early 1960s. The poles may be of any length or diameter.
A slideway, or box, is sunk into the ground with its back placed directly below the crossbar. The vaulter thrusts the pole into this box upon leaving the ground. A pit at least 5 meters (16.4 feet) square and filled with soft, cushioning material is provided behind the crossbar for the landing.
Technique
Requirements of the athlete include a high degree of coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic ability. The modern vaulter makes a run of 40 meters (131.2 feet) while carrying the pole and approaches the takeoff with great speed. As the stride before the spring is completed, the vaulter performs the shift, which consists in advancing the pole toward the slideway and at the same time allowing the lower hand to slip up the pole until it reaches the upper hand, then raising both hands as high above the head as possible before leaving the ground. The vaulter is thus able to exert the full pulling power of both arms to raise the body and help swing up the legs.
The vaulter plants the pole firmly in the box, and, running off the ground (rather than jumping), the vaulter’s body is left hanging by the hands as long as possible; the quick, catapulting action of the glass-fiber pole makes timing especially important. The legs swing upward and to the side of the pole, and then shoot high above the crossbar. The body twists to face downward. The vaulter’s body travels across the crossbar by “carry”—the forward speed acquired from the run.
Notable pole-vaulters
- Don Bragg (U.S.)
- Sergey Bubka (U.S.S.R. and Ukraine)
- Stacy Dragila (U.S.)
- Mondo Duplantis (Sweden)
- Emma George (Australia)
- Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia)
- John Pennel (U.S.)
- Bob Richards (U.S.)
- Cornelius Warmerdam (U.S.)