Pole vault at the Olympics

Last updated

Pole vault
at the Olympic Games
Pole vault event at the 1904 Summer Olympics.jpg
The 1904 pole vault competition
Overview
Sport Athletics
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 18962024
Women: 20002024
Olympic record
Men6.25 m Armand Duplantis (2024)
Women5.05 m Yelena Isinbayeva (2008)
Reigning champion
MenFlag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)
WomenFlag of Australia.svg  Nina Kennedy  (AUS)

The pole vault at the Summer Olympics is grouped among the four track and field jumping events held at the multi-sport event. The men's pole vault has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since the first Summer Olympics in 1896. The women's event is one of the latest additions to the programme, first being contested at the 2000 Summer Olympics – along with the addition of the hammer throw, this brought the women's field event programme to parity with the men's.

Contents

The Olympic records for the event are 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in) for men, set by Armand Duplantis in 2024, and 5.05 m (16 ft 6+34 in) for women, set by Yelena Isinbayeva in 2008. Isinbayeva's 2008 mark was a world record at the time and her 2004 victory in 4.91 m (16 ft 1+14 in) had been the first women's world record in the pole vault to be set at the Olympics. In spite of its longer history, the men's Olympic event has only seen three world record marks – a clearance of 4.09 m (13 ft 5 in) by Frank Foss at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, Władysław Kozakiewicz's vault of 5.78 m (18 ft 11+12 in) to win at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and Armand Duplantis' 2024 winning clearance of 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in). [1]

William Hoyt was the first Olympic champion in 1896 and Stacy Dragila became the first female Olympic pole vault champion over 100 years later in 2000. Armand Duplantis and Katie Nageotte are the reigning Olympic champions from 2021. Yelena Isinbayeva, Bob Richards and Armand Duplantis are the only athletes to win two Olympic pole vault titles. Isinbayeva and Richards are also the only two athletes to win more than two Olympic medals in the discipline. The United States is the most successful nation in the event.

Medalists

Men

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1896 Athens
details
William Hoyt
US flag 44 stars.svg  United States
Albert Tyler
US flag 44 stars.svg  United States
Evangelos Damaskos
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
Ioannis Theodoropoulos
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
1900 Paris
details
Irving Baxter
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Meredith Colket
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Carl Albert Andersen
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
1904 St. Louis
details
Charles Dvorak
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
LeRoy Samse
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Louis Wilkins
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
1908 London
details
Edward Cook
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
none awarded Edward Archibald
Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada
Clare Jacobs
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Alfred Gilbert
US flag 45 stars.svg  United States
Bruno Söderström
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
1912 Stockholm
details
Harry Babcock
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Frank Nelson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
William Halpenny
Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada
Frank Murphy
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Marc Wright
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Bertil Uggla
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
1920 Antwerp
details
Frank Foss
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Henry Petersen
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Edwin Myers
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1924 Paris
details
Lee Barnes
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Glenn Graham
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
James Brooker
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1928 Amsterdam
details
Sabin Carr
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
William Droegemueller
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Charles McGinnis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1932 Los Angeles
details
Bill Miller
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Shuhei Nishida
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
George Jefferson
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1936 Berlin
details
Earle Meadows
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Shuhei Nishida
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
Sueo Ōe
Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan
1948 London
details
Guinn Smith
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Erkki Kataja
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Bob Richards
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
1952 Helsinki
details
Bob Richards
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Don Laz
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Ragnar Lundberg
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
1956 Melbourne
details
Bob Richards
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Bob Gutowski
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Georgios Roubanis
Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece
1960 Rome
details
Don Bragg
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ron Morris
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Eeles Landström
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
1964 Tokyo
details
Fred Hansen
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Wolfgang Reinhardt
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
Klaus Lehnertz
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany
1968 Mexico City
details
Bob Seagren
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Claus Schiprowski
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany
Wolfgang Nordwig
Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany
1972 Munich
details
Wolfgang Nordwig
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Bob Seagren
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Jan Johnson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1976 Montreal
details
Tadeusz Ślusarski
Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
Antti Kalliomäki
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
David Roberts
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
1980 Moscow
details
Władysław Kozakiewicz
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Tadeusz Ślusarski
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
none awarded
Konstantin Volkov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1984 Los Angeles
details
Pierre Quinon
Flag of France.svg  France
Mike Tully
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Earl Bell
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Thierry Vigneron
Flag of France.svg  France
1988 Seoul
details
Sergey Bubka
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Radion Gataullin
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Grigoriy Yegorov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1992 Barcelona
details
Maksim Tarasov
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team
Igor Trandenkov
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team
Javier García
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
1996 Atlanta
details
Jean Galfione
Flag of France.svg  France
Igor Trandenkov
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Andrei Tivontchik
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2000 Sydney
details
Nick Hysong
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Lawrence Johnson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Maksim Tarasov
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2004 Athens
details
Timothy Mack
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Toby Stevenson
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Giuseppe Gibilisco
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg  Italy
2008 Beijing
details
Steve Hooker
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Yevgeny Lukyanenko
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Derek Miles
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2012 London
details
Renaud Lavillenie
Flag of France.svg  France
Björn Otto
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Raphael Holzdeppe
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Thiago Braz
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Renaud Lavillenie
Flag of France.svg  France
Sam Kendricks
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2020 Tokyo
details
Armand Duplantis
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Chris Nilsen
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Thiago Braz
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
2024 Paris
details
Armand Duplantis
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Sam Kendricks
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Emmanouil Karalis
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Bob Richards Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1948–19562013
2 Armand Duplantis Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)2020-20242002
3 Bob Seagren Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1968–19721102
Tadeusz Ślusarski Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)1976–19801102
Renaud Lavillenie Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2012–20161102
6 Wolfgang Nordwig Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1968–19721012
Maksim Tarasov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)
1992–20001012
Thiago Braz Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)2016–20201012
9 Shuhei Nishida Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)1932–19360202
Igor Trandenkov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)
Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)
1992–19960202

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States  (USA)19161348
2Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)3115
3Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2103
4Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)2035
5Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1214
6Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)1102
7Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)1012
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1012
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)1001
10Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0235
11Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0213
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)0213
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)0213
14Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)0101
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)0101
16Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)0044
17Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0022
18Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)0011
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)0011
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)0011
Totals (20 entries)31313597
  • nb The German total includes teams both competing as Germany and the United Team of Germany, but not East or West Germany.
  • A YouTube video showcasing all medal-winning countries can be found here.

Women

GamesGoldSilverBronze
2000 Sydney
details
Stacy Dragila
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Tatiana Grigorieva
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Vala Flosadóttir
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
2004 Athens
details
Yelena Isinbayeva
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Svetlana Feofanova
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Anna Rogowska
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
2008 Beijing
details
Yelena Isinbayeva
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Jennifer Stuczynski
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Svetlana Feofanova
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2012 London
details
Jennifer Suhr
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Yarisley Silva
Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg  Cuba
Yelena Isinbayeva
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Katerina Stefanidi
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Sandi Morris
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Eliza McCartney
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2020 Tokyo
details
Katie Nageotte
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Anzhelika Sidorova
Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  ROC
Holly Bradshaw
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
2024 Paris
details
Nina Kennedy
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia
Katie Moon
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Alysha Newman
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationOlympicsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2004–20122013
2 Jennifer Suhr Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2008–20121102
Katie Moon Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2020–20241102
3 Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2004–20080112

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)3306
2Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2125
3Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)1102
4Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)1001
5Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)0101
Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  ROC 0101
7Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0011
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland  (ISL)0011
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)0011
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)0011

Intercalated Games

The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon. [2]

Continuing its presence since the first Olympics, a men's pole vault event was contested at the 1906 Games. France's Fernand Gonder entered as the world record holder and delivered by winning in an Olympic record-equalling mark. [3] The runner-up, Bruno Söderström of Sweden, also won a javelin throw medal that year. [4] Ed Glover, the American champion, was the bronze medallist. [3]

GamesGoldSilverBronze
1906 Athens
details
Flag of France.svg  Fernand Gonder  (FRA)Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg  Bruno Söderström  (SWE)US flag 45 stars.svg  Ed Glover  (USA)

Non-canonical Olympic events

In addition to the main 1900 Olympic men's pole vault, a handicap competition was held four days later. The joint fourth-place finishers in the main event took the top two spots, with Jakab Kauser posting a mark of 3.45 m with a handicap of 45 cm, and Eric Lemming coming second with his result of 3.40 m with a 30 cm handicap. Meredith Colket, the silver medallist in the main event registered 3.20 m with a handicap of 15 cm. [5] [6] Two further non-handicap "scratch" competitions were held that are no longer considered canon Olympic events: the American champion Bascom Johnson won an event on 16 July, [7] then three days later Daniel Horton (a triple jump competitor) defeated Charles Dvorak in a consolation event – both had missed the final proper as it was held on the Sabbath. Dvorak went on to win the Olympic pole vault gold in 1904. [8] [9]

The handicap event returned at the 1904 Summer Olympics. LeRoy Samse, the runner-up in the main Olympic pole vault, won with 3.58 m and a handicap of one inch. Walter Dray, sixth in the Olympic event, came second with 3.58 m and a ten-inch handicap, while Olympic fifth placer Claude Allen recorded 3.55 m off a seven-inch handicap. [5]

These events are no longer considered part of the official Olympic history of the pole vault or the athletics programme in general. Consequently, medals from these competitions have not been assigned to nations on the all-time medal tables. [5]

References

Participation and athlete data
Olympic record progressions
Specific
  1. 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics: IAAF Statistics Handbook Berlin 2009 (pgs. 546, 645). IAAF (2009). Retrieved on 3 May 2014.
  2. 1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 26 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's Pole Vault. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 3 May 2014.
  4. Bruno Söderström. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 19 April 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Handicap Olympic Athletics Events. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 18 April 2014.
  6. Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Pole Vault, Handicap. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 5 May 2014.
  7. Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Special Scratch Pole Vault #1. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 5 May 2014.
  8. Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Special Scratch Pole Vault #2. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 5 May 2014.
  9. Charles Dvorak. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 5 May 2014.