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Pole Vault

Originally a means of crossing natural obstacles such as ditches, canals and marshes the first recorded British pole vault competition was in 1812. The dutch still have a pole vault across canal's most competitors end up in the canal but that's another story.

The men's pole vault has been a medal event at every modern Olympics, however the women's competition has only been held since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

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Some Basic Pole Vault Info

The pole vault is a field event for both ment and women. Each competitor will sprint along a runway carrying a long, flexible pole which they must then plant in a box and use to lever themselves over a crossbar which will be suspended several metres above the ground between two uprights.

The height of the cross bar is raised after every round and athletes are eliminated from the competition when they have failed three consecutive attempts at jumping over the bar.

Pole vault requires a runway of 40-45m (131-147ft 6in), a pole box, two uprights, a crossbar, landing mats, The athlete requires one pole a pair of good running shoes for dependable grip close fitting clothes to reduce the risk of snagging, Most poles are now fibre glass, they can be any length or diameter but must be round.

Most pole vaulters are tall they need to be able to run fast to build up momentum the ability to put explosive power into their legs for the take off and exceptional strength in the shoulders, arms and abdomen and it goes without saying that spatial awareness is a key to avoiding the bar.

Serge Bubka broke the world record in 1994 with an impressive 6.14m during his career he broke 35 world records 17 outdoor and 18 indoor. He is known as the king of the pole vault.