Pole vault at the World Athletics Championships

Last updated

Pole vault
at the World Athletics Championships
DOH50184 polevault men final lisek (48910954591).jpg
Piotr Lisek competing in the 2019 final.
Overview
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 1983 – 2025
Women: 1999 – 2025
Championship record
Men6.30 m Armand Duplantis (2025)
Women5.01 m Yelena Isinbayeva (2005)
Reigning champion
MenFlag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)
WomenFlag of the United States.svg  Katie Moon  (USA)

The pole vault at the World Athletics Championships has been contested by men since 1983 and women since 1999. The competition format typically has one qualifying round contested by two groups of athletes, with all those clearing the qualifying height or placing in top twelve overall advancing to the final round.

Contents

The United States is the most successful nation in the event, winning a total of 17 medals, including 7 golds. Russia is the second-most successful nation, with 14 medals in total and 5 golds. The Soviet Union, Ukraine and Australia are the only two other nations that have won more than 2 gold medals. France is the most successful nation to have never won a gold medal, with 4 silvers and 5 bronzes, all in the men's event.

Sergey Bubka is the most successful athlete in the event, winning 6 gold medals in a row between the inaugural edition in 1983 and 1997. His 6 gold medals are more than any athlete has won in an individual event in World Athletics Championships history. Yelena Isinbayeva is the most successful athlete on the women's side, winning 3 gold and 1 bronze medal between 2003 and 2013. Four athletes have won two world titles: Sam Kendricks and Armand Duplantis on the men's side, and Stacy Dragila and Katie Moon on the women's side.

The championship records for the event are 6.21 for men, set by Armand Duplantis in 2022, and 5.01 m for women, set by Yelena Isinbayeva in 2005. The world record has been broken three times total at the World Championships: the men's record by Duplantis in 2022, and the women's record by Dragila and Isinbayeva in 1999 and 2005 respectively.

Age records

DistinctionMaleFemale
AthleteAgeDateAthleteAgeDate
Youngest championFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)19 years, 253 days14 Aug 1983Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Feofanova  (RUS)23 years, 40 days25 Aug 2003
Youngest medalistFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)19 years, 253 days14 Aug 1983Flag of Venezuela.svg  Robeilys Peinado  (VEN)19 years, 253 days6 Aug 2017
Youngest finalistFlag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)17 years, 271 days8 Aug 2017Flag of Venezuela.svg  Robeilys Peinado  (VEN)19 years, 253 days6 Aug 2017
Youngest participantFlag of El Salvador.svg  Natan Rivera  (ESA)16 years, 253 days22 Aug 2015Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Vicky Parnov  (AUS)16 years, 306 days26 Aug 2007
Oldest championFlag of Ukraine.svg  Sergey Bubka  (UKR)33 years, 249 days10 Aug 1997Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Isinbayeva  (RUS)31 years, 71 days13 Aug 2013
Oldest medalistFlag of Germany.svg  Björn Otto  (GER)35 years, 300 days12 Aug 2013Flag of Brazil.svg  Fabiana Murer  (BRA)31 years, 189 days26 Aug 2015
Oldest finalistFlag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)39 years, 362 days15 Sept 2025Flag of the United States.svg  Jenn Suhr  (USA)37 years, 236 days29 Sep 2019
Oldest participantFlag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)39 years, 362 days15 Sept 2025Flag of the United States.svg  Stacy Dragila  (USA)38 years, 143 days15 Aug 2009

Medalists

Men

ChampionshipsGoldSilverBronze
1983 Helsinki
details 		Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Konstantin Volkov  (URS)Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Atanas Tarev  (BUL)
1987 Rome
details 		Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)Flag of France.svg  Thierry Vigneron  (FRA)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Radion Gataullin  (URS)
1991 Tokyo
details 		Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Sergey Bubka  (URS)Flag of Hungary.svg  István Bagyula  (HUN)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Maksim Tarasov  (URS)
1993 Stuttgart
details 		Flag of Ukraine.svg  Sergey Bubka  (UKR)Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Grigoriy Yegorov  (KAZ)Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg  Maksim Tarasov  (RUS)
Flag of Russia (1991-1993).svg  Igor Trandenkov  (RUS)
1995 Gothenburg
details 		Flag of Ukraine.svg  Sergey Bubka  (UKR)Flag of Russia.svg  Maksim Tarasov  (RUS)Flag of France.svg  Jean Galfione  (FRA)
1997 Athens
details 		Flag of Ukraine.svg  Sergey Bubka  (UKR)Flag of Russia.svg  Maksim Tarasov  (RUS)Flag of the United States.svg  Dean Starkey  (USA)
1999 Seville
details 		Flag of Russia.svg  Maksim Tarasov  (RUS)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Dmitri Markov  (AUS)Flag of Israel.svg  Aleksandr Averbukh  (ISR)
2001 Edmonton
details 		Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Dmitri Markov  (AUS)Flag of Israel.svg  Aleksandr Averbukh  (ISR)Flag of the United States.svg  Nick Hysong  (USA)
2003 Saint-Denis
details 		Flag of Italy.svg  Giuseppe Gibilisco  (ITA)Flag of South Africa.svg  Okkert Brits  (RSA)Flag of Sweden.svg  Patrik Kristiansson  (SWE)
2005 Helsinki
details 		Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Rens Blom  (NED)Flag of the United States.svg  Brad Walker  (USA)Flag of Russia.svg  Pavel Gerasimov  (RUS)
2007 Osaka
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Brad Walker  (USA)Flag of France.svg  Romain Mesnil  (FRA)Flag of Germany.svg  Danny Ecker  (GER)
2009 Berlin
details 		Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Steve Hooker  (AUS)Flag of France.svg  Romain Mesnil  (FRA)Flag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)
2011 Daegu
details 		Flag of Poland.svg  Paweł Wojciechowski  (POL)Flag of Cuba.svg  Lázaro Borges  (CUB)Flag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)
2013 Moscow
details 		Flag of Germany.svg  Raphael Holzdeppe  (GER)Flag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)Flag of Germany.svg  Björn Otto  (GER)
2015 Beijing
details 		Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Shawnacy Barber  (CAN)Flag of Germany.svg  Raphael Holzdeppe  (GER)Flag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)
Flag of Poland.svg  Pawel Wojciechowski  (POL)
Flag of Poland.svg  Piotr Lisek  (POL)
2017 London
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Kendricks  (USA)Flag of Poland.svg  Piotr Lisek  (POL)Flag of France.svg  Renaud Lavillenie  (FRA)
2019 Doha
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Kendricks  (USA)Flag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)Flag of Poland.svg  Piotr Lisek  (POL)
2022 Eugene
details 		Flag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)Flag of the United States.svg  Christopher Nilsen  (USA)Flag of the Philippines.svg  Ernest John Obiena  (PHL)
2023 Budapest
details 		Flag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)Flag of the Philippines.svg  Ernest John Obiena  (PHL)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Kurtis Marschall  (AUS)
Flag of the United States.svg  Christopher Nilsen  (USA)
2025 Tokyo
details 		Flag of Sweden.svg  Armand Duplantis  (SWE)Flag of Greece.svg  Emmanouil Karalis  (GRE)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Kurtis Marschall  (AUS)

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationPeriodGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)		1983–19976006
2 Armand Duplantis Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)2019-20253104
3 Sam Kendricks Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2017–20192002
4 Maksim Tarasov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)1991–19991225
5 Dmitri Markov Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)1999–20011102
Brad Walker Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2005–20071102
Raphael Holzdeppe Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)2013–20151102
8 Paweł Wojciechowski Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2011–20151012
9 Renaud Lavillenie Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2009–20170145
10 Piotr Lisek Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2015–20190123
11 Aleksandr Averbukh Flag of Israel.svg  Israel  (ISR)1999–20010112
Christopher Nilsen Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2022-20230112
Ernest John Obiena Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)2022-20230112
14 Kurtis Marschall Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)2023–20250022

Medals by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)3238
2Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)3126
3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)3115
4Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)3003
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)2125
6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)1236
7Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)1135
8Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1124
9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)1001
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)1001
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)1001
12Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0459
13Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)0112
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)0112
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel  (ISR)0112
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHL)0112
17Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)0101
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)0101
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)0101
20Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)0011

Women

ChampionshipsGoldSilverBronze
1999 Seville
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Stacy Dragila  (USA)Flag of Ukraine.svg  Anzhela Balakhonova  (UKR)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Tatiana Grigorieva  (AUS)
2001 Edmonton
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Stacy Dragila  (USA)Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Feofanova  (RUS)Flag of Poland.svg  Monika Pyrek  (POL)
2003 Saint-Denis
details 		Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Feofanova  (RUS)Flag of Germany.svg  Annika Becker  (GER)Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Isinbayeva  (RUS)
2005 Helsinki
details 		Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Isinbayeva  (RUS)Flag of Poland.svg  Monika Pyrek  (POL)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Pavla Hamáčková  (CZE)
2007 Osaka
details 		Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Isinbayeva  (RUS)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Kateřina Baďurová  (CZE)Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Feofanova  (RUS)
2009 Berlin
details 		Flag of Poland.svg  Anna Rogowska  (POL)Flag of the United States.svg  Chelsea Johnson  (USA)
Flag of Poland.svg  Monika Pyrek  (POL)		none awarded
2011 Daegu
details 		Flag of Brazil.svg  Fabiana Murer  (BRA)Flag of Germany.svg  Martina Strutz  (GER)Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Feofanova  (RUS)
2013 Moscow
details 		Flag of Russia.svg  Yelena Isinbayeva  (RUS)Flag of the United States.svg  Jenn Suhr  (USA)Flag of Cuba.svg  Yarisley Silva  (CUB)
2015 Beijing
details 		Flag of Cuba.svg  Yarisley Silva  (CUB)Flag of Brazil.svg  Fabiana Murer  (BRA)Flag of Greece.svg  Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou  (GRE)
2017 London
details 		Flag of Greece.svg  Ekaterini Stefanidi  (GRE)Flag of the United States.svg  Sandi Morris  (USA)Flag of Venezuela.svg  Robeilys Peinado  (VEN)
Flag of Cuba.svg  Yarisley Silva  (CUB)
2019 Doha
details 		ANA flag (2017).svg  Anzhelika Sidorova  (ANA)Flag of the United States.svg  Sandi Morris  (USA)Flag of Greece.svg  Katerina Stefanidi  (GRE)
2022 Eugene
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Katie Nageotte  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Sandi Morris  (USA)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Nina Kennedy  (AUS)
2023 Budapest
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Katie Moon  (USA)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Nina Kennedy  (AUS)		none awardedFlag of Finland.svg  Wilma Murto  (FIN)
2025 Tokyo
details 		Flag of the United States.svg  Katie Moon  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Sandi Morris  (USA)Flag of Slovenia.svg  Tina Šutej  (SLO)

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationPeriodGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2003–20133014
2 Katie Moon Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2022-20253003
3 Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1999–20012002
4 Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2001–20111124
5 Fabiana Murer Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)2011–20151102
6 Yarisley Silva Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2013–20151023
7 Ekaterini Stefanidi Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)2017–20191012
Nina Kennedy Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)2022-20231012
9 Sandi Morris Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2017–20250403
10 Monika Pyrek Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2001–20090213

Medals by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)56011
2Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)4138
3Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)1214
4Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)1102
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)1011
6Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)1023
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)1023
8ANA flag (2017).svg  Authorised Neutral Athletes  (ANA)1001
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0202
10Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic  (CZE)0112
11Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)0101
12Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0011
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)0011
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela  (VEN)0011

Championship record progression

Men

Men's pole vault World Championships record progression [2]
MarkAthleteNationYearRoundDate
5.40 m Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Konstantin Volkov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Władysław Kozakiewicz Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Thierry Vigneron Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Frantisek Jansa Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Miro Zalar Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Tom Hintnaus Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Felix Bohni Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland  (SUI) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Vladimir Polyakov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Tadeusz Slusarski Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Jeff Buckingham Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Veijo Vannesluoma Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN) 1983 Final1983-08-14
5.50 m Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Tom Hintnaus Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Atanas Tarev Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Patrick Abada Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Miro Zalar Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE) 1983 Final1983-08-14
5.55 m Tadeusz Slusarski Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL) 1983 Final1983-08-14
5.60 m Konstantin Volkov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Atanas Tarev Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
5.70 m Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Final1983-08-14
Nikolay Nikolov Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Thierry Vigneron Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Rodion Gataulin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Marian Kolasa Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL) 1987 Final1987-09-05
5.80 m Rodion Gataulin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Thierry Vigneron Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA) 1987 Final1987-09-05
Marian Kolasa Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL) 1987 Final1987-09-05
5.85 m Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1987 Final1987-09-05
5.90 m Istvan Bagyula Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN) 1991 Final1991-08-29
5.95 m Sergey Bubka Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1991 Final1991-08-29
6.00 m Sergey Bubka Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR) 1993 Final1993-08-19
6.01 m Sergey Bubka Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR) 1997 Final1997-08-10
6.02 m Maksim Tarasov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 1999 Final1999-08-26
6.05 m Dmitriy Markov Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS) 2001 Final2001-08-09
6.06 m Armand Duplantis Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE) 2022 Final2022-07-24
6.21 m WR Armand Duplantis Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE) 2022 Final2022-07-24
6.30 m WR Armand Duplantis Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE) 2025 Final2025-09-15

Women

Women's pole vault World Championships record progression [3]
TimeAthleteNationYearRoundDate
4.40 m Nicole Humbert Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Zsuzsanna Szabo Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Pavla Hamackova Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic  (CZE) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Daniela Bartova Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic  (CZE) 1999 Final1999-08-21
4.45 m Tatiana Grigorieva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Anzhela Balakhonova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1999 Final1999-08-21
4.50 m Anzhela Balakhonova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1999 Final1999-08-21
4.55 m Anzhela Balakhonova Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR) 1999 Final1999-08-21
Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1999 Final1999-08-21
4.60 m WR Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1999 Final1999-08-21
4.60 m Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 2001 Final2001-08-06
Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2001 Final2001-08-06
4.65 m Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 2001 Final2001-08-06
Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2001 Final2001-08-06
4.70 m Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 2001 Final2001-08-06
Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2001 Final2001-08-06
4.75 m Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2001 Final2003-08-25
Stacy Dragila Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 2001 Final2001-08-06
Svetlana Feofanova Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2001 Final2003-08-25
5.01 m WR Yelena Isinbayeva Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS) 2005 Final2005-08-12

Best performances

Top ten highest World Championship vaults1

1Does not include ancillary marks

See also

References

  1. ↑ "World Athletics Championships - Budapest 23 Statistical Booklet" (PDF). www.worldathletics.org : 42–45.
  2. ↑ Main > Men's Pole Vault > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2024-10-08.
  3. ↑ Main > Women's pole vault > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2024-10-08.
  4. ↑ "Men's pole vault".
  5. ↑ "Women's pole vault". Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

Bibliography

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