Pole Vault

Probably the most difficult of all disciplines - it requires courage, strength, speed, good coordination skills, gymnastic abilities and of course a lot of practice. Though there are some who love it and can catch up with others concerning the scores as a lot of points are awarded for great heights (30 points for 10 cm). The best pole vaulters like formerly Erki Nool among the decathlete can jump up to 5,50 m (corresponding to 1067 points), but there are others who always fear failing at their first height.

Concerning the event itself, athletes use a flexible pole (mostly made out of fibreglass or carbon fiber) to help them leap over a bar. The poles come in different lengths - mostly between 4,60 m and 5,20 m for the decathletes - and in different stiffnesses, depending on the athlete's weight and speed.

The pole vault can be ideally divided into several phases:

• Approach: the vaulter sprints about 30 m to 45 m to achieve maximum speed, holding the pole upright at first but lowering it to a horizontal position getting closer to the pit. The last couple of steps before taking off are normally quicker to accumulate more energy.
• Plant and take-off: for the plant the vaulter outstretches both his arms (one right above his head, the other one perpendicular to the pole), at the same time putting the tip of the pole into the box. Then he jumps of, putting one knee forward while the trail leg remains straight. Now the pole starts to bend and the vaulter continues up and forward.
• Swing-up and extension: to put his body into an upright, but upside-down position, the vaulter swings his trail leg forward straightening the legs and pulls his arms close to his body, closing the angle between body, arms and pole. During this time the vault recoils, pushing the vaulter upward.
• Turn: the vaulter spins 180° around his vertical axis during or after extending his legs upwards.
• Fly-away: the vaulter pushes off the pole and releases it, making sure it falls away from the bar. Then he crosses the bar in a rotational movement, trying not touch it with any part of his body to avoid knocking-off the bar. He should land on the mats (also called the pit) ideally safely on his back

Some of the best decathletes in this event with their PBs:

• Erki Nool (EST) - 5,60 m
• Sébastien Levicq (FRA) - 5,60 m
• Stefan Drews (GER) - 5,55 m
• Paul Terek (USA) - 5,50 m
• André Niklaus (GER) - 5,30 m

To compare the current world record for this event is 6,14 m, held by Sergey Bubka.