Pole Vault: Technique, Rules, History & World Records

Pole Vault: Technique, Rules and History

The pole vault is a track and field event that challenges athletes to clear a horizontal bar set at height using a flexible pole. This pole is usually 4 to 5 meters long and is commonly made of fiberglass and carbon fiber, which replaced bamboo and metal in the early 1960s. Athletes have three attempts to clear each height; they are eliminated if they record three consecutive failures.

Reasons for a Failed Attempt

No-attempt (failed) attempts occur for these reasons:

• The bar does not remain on the supports as a result of the athlete's jump.
• The athlete and the pole touch the ground or landing area beyond the vertical plane of the top edge of the box without clearing the bar.
• After takeoff, the lower hand is placed over the top hand or moved to the top of the pole (the action of climbing the pole).
• The athlete disturbs, stabilizes, or intentionally repositions the bar with a hand during the jump.
• Delay in initiating or completing the attempt (exceeding the allowed time).

Approach, Pole Plant and Takeoff

The pole vaulter takes a few strides before the end of the runway, performs a run-up toward the pit, and plants the tip of the pole into a metal box on the ground (the box has a depth of about 2 dm, i.e., 20 cm). The vaulter jumps forward and upward while the pole bends, places the body in position to receive the rebound of the pole, and extends the body upward aided by the momentum of the arms. The athlete clears the bar by crossing it feet first, then lands on the mat.

The athlete can adjust the pole-plant position relative to the box; the plant point may be up to 80 cm away from the perpendicular to the uprights at the end of the box to alter the effective depth or bend of the pole.

Physical Requirements and Olympic History

This event requires good running speed, strong back and core muscles, and gymnastic ability. It has been part of the men's Olympic athletics program since the first modern Games in 1896 in Athens. Women did not debut in the Olympic pole vault until the 2000 edition, held in Sydney.

Role in Combined Events

The pole vault is the penultimate (second-to-last) of the ten events in the men's decathlon and the third event in the women's heptathlon. In men's indoor competition it is the penultimate of the seven events in the heptathlon.

Notable Athlete and World Records

In 1988 the Ukrainian Sergei Bubka, widely considered one of the greatest pole vaulters in history, became the first athlete to clear 6 metres. He later set the outdoor world record at 6.14 m and the indoor world record at 6.15 m.

Summary

• Equipment: 4–5 m poles made of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
• Attempts: Three attempts per height; eliminated after three consecutive failures.
• Olympics: Men's event since 1896; women's event since 2000.
• Notable record: Sergei Bubka — 6.14 m outdoors, 6.15 m indoors.