Pole vault - wikipedia Pole vault Athletics Pole vault An athlete in the middle of the vaulting phase Men 's records World Renaud Lavillenie 6.16 m ( 20 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2014 ) Olympic Thiago Braz da Silva 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ) Women 's records World Yelena Isinbayeva 5.06 m ( 16 ft 7 in ) ( 2009 ) Olympic Yelena Isinbayeva 5.05 m ( 16 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2008 ) Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole ( which today is usually made either of fiberglass or carbon fiber ) as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, Cretans and Celts. It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and 2000 for women. It is typically classified as one of the four major jumping events in athletics, alongside the high jump, long jump and triple jump. It is unusual among track and field sports in that it requires a significant amount of specialised equipment in order to participate, even at a basic level. A number of elite pole vaulters have had backgrounds in gymnastics, including world record breakers Yelena Isinbayeva and Brian Sternberg, reflecting the similar physical attributes required for the sports. Running speed, however, may be the most dominant factor. Contents 1 History 2 Modern vaulting 3 Technology 4 Technique 4.1 Approach 4.2 Plant and take - off 4.3 Swing up 4.4 Extension 4.5 Turn 4.6 Fly - away 5 Terminology 6 All - time top 25 athletes 6.1 Men ( comprehensive ) 6.1. 1 Notes 6.2 Women ( comprehensive ) 6.2. 1 Notes 7 Six metres club 8 Five metres club 9 Milestones 10 Olympic medalists 10.1 Men 10.2 Women 11 World Championships medalists 11.1 Men 11.2 Women 12 World Indoor Championships medalists 12.1 Men 12.2 Women 13 Season 's bests 13.1 Men 13.2 Women 14 Notes and references 15 External links History Pole vault in the 1890s at US Naval Academy Traditional fierljeppen in the Netherlands, using poles to clear distances over rivers Poles were used as a practical means of passing over natural obstacles in marshy places such as provinces of Friesland in the Netherlands, along the North Sea, and the great level of the Fens across Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Artificial draining of these marshes created a network of open drains or canals intersecting each other. To cross these without getting wet, while avoiding tedious roundabout journeys over bridges, a stack of jumping poles was kept at every house and used for vaulting over the canals. Venetian gondoliers have traditionally used punting poles for moving to the shore from their boat. Distance pole vaulting competitions continue to be held annually in the lowlands around the North Sea. These far - jumping competitions ( Frysk : Fierljeppen ) are not based on height. In his book The Mechanics of the Pole Vault, Richard Ganslen reports that the London Gymnastic Society under Professor Voelker held measured pole vaulting events in 1826, involving 1,300 participants and recording heights up to 10 ft 10 in ( 3.3 m ). Other early pole vaulting competitions where height was measured took place at the Ulverston Football and Cricket Club, Lancashire, north of the sands ( now Cumbria ) in 1843. Modern competition began around 1850 in Germany, when pole vaulting was added to the exercises of the Turner gymnastic clubs by Johann C.F. GutsMuths and Friedrich L. Jahn. In Great Britain, it was first practiced at the Caledonian Games. Initially, vaulting poles were made from stiff materials such as bamboo or aluminum. The introduction of flexible vaulting poles in the early 1950s made from composites such as fiberglass or carbon fiber allowed vaulters to achieve greater height. Physical attributes such as speed, agility and strength are essential to pole vaulting effectively, but technical skill is an equally if not more important element. The object of pole vaulting is to clear a bar or crossbar supported upon two uprights ( standards ) without knocking it down. Pole vaulter Allison Stokke prepares for her jump In 2000, IAAF rule 260.18 a ( formerly 260.6 a ) was amended, so that `` world records '' ( as opposed to `` indoor world records '' ) can be set in a facility `` with or without roof ''. This rule was not applied retroactively, With many indoor facilities not conforming to outdoor track specifications for size and flatness, the pole vault is the only world record set indoors. Modern vaulting Today, athletes compete in the pole vault as one of the four jumping events in track and field. Because the high jump and pole vault are both vertical jumps, the competitions are conducted similarly. Each athlete can choose what height they would like to enter the competition. Once they enter, they have three attempts to clear the height. If a height is cleared, the vaulter advances to the next height, where they will have three more attempts. Once the vaulter has three consecutive misses, they are out of the competition and the highest height they cleared is their result. A `` no height '', often denoted `` NH '', refers to the failure of a vaulter to clear any bar during the competition. Once the vaulter enters the competition, they can choose to pass heights. If a vaulter achieves a miss on their first attempt at a height, they can pass to the next height, but they will only have two attempts at that height, as they will be out once they achieve three consecutive misses. Similarly, after earning two misses at a height, they could pass to the next height, when they would have only one attempt. An athlete passes the bar with the aid of a pole The competitor who clears the highest height is the winner. If two or more vaulters have finished with the same height, the tie is broken by the number of misses at the final height. If the tied vaulters have the same number of misses at the last height cleared, the tie is broken by the total number of misses in the competition. If there is still a tie for first place, a jump - off occurs to break the tie. Marks achieved in this type of jump - off are considered valid and count for any purpose that a mark achieved in a normal competition would. If a tie in the other places still exists, a jump - off is not normally conducted, unless the competition is a qualifying meet, and the tie exists in the final qualifying spot. In this case, an administrative jump - off is conducted to break the tie, but the marks are not considered valid for any other purpose than breaking the tie. A jump - off is a sudden death competition in which the tied vaulters attempt the same height, starting with the last attempted height. If both vaulters miss, the bar goes down by a small increment, and if both clear, the bar goes up by a small increment. A jump - off ends when one vaulter clears and the other misses. Each vaulter gets one attempt at each height until one makes and one misses. The equipment and rules for pole vaulting are similar to the high jump. Unlike high jump, however, the athlete in the vault has the ability to select the horizontal position of the bar before each jump and can place it a distance beyond the back of the box, the metal pit that the pole is placed into immediately before takeoff. The range of distance the vaulter may place the standards varies depending on the level of competition. Painting by former athlete Raffaello Ducceschi depicting the pole vault If the pole used by the athlete dislodges the bar from the uprights, a foul attempt is ruled, even if the athlete has cleared the height. An athlete does not benefit from quickly leaving the landing pad before the bar has fallen. The exception to this rule if the vaulter is vaulting outdoors and has made a clear effort to throw the pole back, but the wind has blown the pole into the bar ; this counts as a clearance. This call is made at the discretion of the pole vault official. If the pole breaks during the execution of a vault, it is considered an equipment failure and is ruled a non-jump, neither a make nor a miss. Other types of equipment failure include the standards slipping down or the wind dislodging the bar when no contact was made by the vaulter. Each athlete has a set amount of time in which to make an attempt. The amount of time varies by level of competition and the number of vaulters remaining. If the vaulter fails to begin an attempt within this time, the vaulter is charged with a time foul and the attempt is a miss. Poles are manufactured with ratings corresponding to the vaulter 's maximum weight. Some organizations forbid vaulters to use poles rated below their weight as a safety precaution. The recommended weight corresponds to a flex rating that is determined by the manufacturer by placing a standardized amount of stress ( most commonly a 50 lb ( 23 kg ) weight ) on the pole and measuring how much the center of the pole is displaced. Therefore, two poles rated at the same weight are not necessarily the same stiffness. Because pole stiffness and length are important factors to a vaulter 's performance, it is not uncommon for an elite vaulter to carry as many as ten poles to a competition. The effective properties of a pole can be changed by gripping the pole higher or lower in relation to the top of the pole. The left and right handgrips are typically a bit more than shoulder width apart. Poles are manufactured for people of all skill levels and body sizes, with sizes as short as 3.05 m ( 10 ft 0 in ) to as long as 5.30 m ( 17 ft 5 in ), with a wide range of weight ratings. Each manufacturer determines the weight rating for the pole and the location of the maximum handhold band. However speed is the most essential element to higher jumps, because the energy produced by the run ( 1 2 m v 2 ( displaystyle ( \frac ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ) mv ^ ( 2 ) ), m ( displaystyle m ) = mass of the athlete ; v ( displaystyle v ) = speed ) is converted to vertical propulsion ( gravitational potential energy ) ( mass x height x acceleration due to gravity ( 9.81 m s − 2 ( displaystyle 9.81 ms ^ ( - 2 ) ) ) ). Technology Competitive pole vaulting began using solid ash poles. As the heights attained increased, the bamboo poles gave way to tubular aluminum, which was tapered at each end. Today 's pole vaulters benefit from poles produced by wrapping pre-cut sheets of fiberglass that contains resin around a metal pole mandrel, to produce a slightly curved pole that bends more easily under the compression caused by an athlete 's take - off. The shape of the fiberglass sheets and the amount of fiberglass used is carefully planned to provide the desired length and stiffness of pole. Different fiber types, including carbon - fiber, are used to give poles specific characteristics intended to promote higher jumps. In recent years, carbon fiber has been added to the commonly used E-glass and S - glass materials to create a lighter pole. As in the high jump, the landing area was originally a heap of sawdust or sand where athletes landed on their feet. As technology enabled higher vaults, mats evolved into bags of large chunks of foam. Today 's high - tech mats are foam usually 1 -- 1.5 meters ( 3 ft 3 in -- 4 ft 11 in ) thick. Mats are growing larger in area as well to minimize risk of injury. Proper landing technique is on the back or shoulders. Landing on the feet should be avoided, to eliminate the risk of injury to the lower extremities, particularly ankle sprains. Rule changes over the years have resulted in larger landing areas and additional padding of all hard and unyielding surfaces. The pole vault crossbar has evolved from a triangular aluminum bar to a round fiberglass bar with rubber ends. This is balanced on standards and can be knocked off when it is hit by a pole vaulter or the pole. Rule changes have led to shorter pegs and crossbar ends that are semi-circular. Technique Phases of Pole Vaulting Although many techniques are used by vaulters at various skill levels to clear the bar, the generally accepted technical model can be broken down into several phases : Approach During the approach the pole vaulter sprints down the runway in such a way as to achieve maximum speed and correct position to initiate takeoff at the end of the approach. Top class vaulters use approaches with 18 to 22 strides, often referred to as a `` step '' in which every other foot is counted as one step. The run - up to the vaulting pit begins forcefully with the vaulter running powerfully in a relaxed, upright position with knees lifted and torso leaning very slightly forward. The head, shoulders and hips are aligned, the vaulter increasing speed as the body becomes erect. The tip of the vaulting pole is angled higher than eye level until three paces from takeoff, when the pole tip descends efficiently, amplifying run speed as the pole is planted into the vault box. The faster the vaulter can run and the more efficient their take - off is, the greater the kinetic energy that can be achieved and used during the vault. Plant and take - off The plant and take off is initiated typically three steps out from the final step. Vaulters will usually count their steps backwards from their starting point to the box only counting the steps taken on the left foot ( vice versa for left - handers ) except for the second step from the box, which is taken by the right foot. For example ; a vaulter on a `` ten count '' ( referring to the number of counted steps from the starting point to the box ) would count backwards from ten, only counting the steps taken with the left foot, until the last three steps taken and both feet are counted as three, two, one. These last three steps are normally quicker than the previous strides and are referred to as the `` turn - over ''. The goal of this phase is to efficiently translate the kinetic energy accumulated from the approach into potential energy stored by the elasticity of the pole, and to gain as much initial vertical height as possible by jumping off the ground. The plant starts with the vaulter raising their arms up from around the hips or mid-torso until they are fully outstretched above the head, with the right arm extended directly above the head and the left arm extended perpendicular to the pole ( vice versa for left - handed vaulters ). At the same time, the vaulter is dropping the pole tip into the box. On the final step, the vaulter jumps off the trail leg which should always remain straight and then drives the front knee forward. As the pole slides into the back of the box the pole begins to bend and the vaulter continues up and forward, leaving the trail leg angled down and behind. Swing up The swing and row simply consists of the vaulter swinging the trail leg forward and rowing the pole, bringing the top arm down to the hips, while trying to keep the trail leg straight to store more potential energy into the pole, the rowing motion also keeps the pole bent for a longer period of time for the vaulter to get into optimum position. Once in a `` U '' shape the left arm hugs the pole tight to efficiently use the recoil within the pole. The goal is to carry out these motions as thoroughly and as quickly as possible ; it is a race against the unbending of the pole. Effectively, this causes a double pendulum motion, with the top of the pole moving forward and pivoting from the box, while the vaulter acts as a second pendulum pivoting from the right hand. This action gives the vaulter the best position possible to be `` ejected '' off the pole. The swing continues until the hips are above the head and the arms are pulling the pole close to the chest ; from there the vaulter shoots their legs up over the cross bar while keeping the pole close. Extension The extension refers to the extension of the hips upward with outstretched legs as the shoulders drive down, causing the vaulter to be positioned upside down. This position is often referred to as `` inversion ''. While this phase is executed, the pole begins to recoil, propelling the vaulter quickly upward. The hands of the vaulter remain close to the body as they move from the shins back to the region around the hips and upper torso. Turn The turn is executed immediately after or even during the end of the rockback. As the name implies, the vaulter turns 180 ° toward the pole while extending the arms down past the head and shoulders. Typically the vaulter will begin to angle their body toward the bar as the turn is executed, although ideally the vaulter will remain as vertical as possible. A more accurate description of this phase of the vault may be `` the spin '' because the vaulter spins around an imaginary axis from head to toe. Fly - away This is often highly emphasized by spectators and novice vaulters, but it is arguably the easiest phase of the vault and is a result of proper execution of previous phases. This phase mainly consists of the vaulter pushing off the pole and releasing it so it falls away from the bar and mats. As the torso goes over and around the bar, the vaulter is facing the bar. Rotation of the body over the bar occurs naturally, and the vaulter 's main concern is making sure that their arms, face and any other appendages do not knock the bar off as they go over. The vaulter should land near the middle of the foam landing mats, or pits, face up. Terminology Bar : The cross bar that is suspended above the ground by the standards. Box : A trapezoidal indentation in the ground with a metal or fiberglass covering at the end of the runway in which vaulters `` plant '' their pole. The back wall of the box is nearly vertical and is approximately 8 inches ( 20 cm ) in depth. The bottom of the box gradually slopes upward approximately 3 feet ( 90 cm ) until it is level with the runway. The covering in the box ensures the pole will slide to the back of the box without catching on anything. The covering 's lip overlaps onto the runway and ensures a smooth transition from all - weather surface so a pole being planted does not catch on the box. Drive knee : During the plant phase, the knee is driven forward at the time of `` takeoff '' to help propel the vaulter upward. Grip : The location of the vaulter 's top hand on the pole. As the vaulter improves, their grip may move up the pole incrementally. The other hand is typically placed shoulder - width down from the top hand. Hands are not allowed to grip the very top of the pole ( their hand perpendicular to the pole ) for safety reasons. Jump foot : The foot that the vaulter uses to leave the ground as they begin their vault. It is also referred to as the take - off foot. Pit : The mats used for landing in pole vault. Plant position : The position a vaulter is in the moment the pole reaches the back of the box and the vaulter begins their vault. Their arms are fully extended and their drive knee begins to come up as they jump. Pole : The fiberglass equipment used to propel the vaulter up and over the bar. One side is more stiff than the other to facilitate the bending of the pole after the plant. A vaulter may rest the pole on their arm to determine which side is the stiff side. Standards : The equipment that holds the bar at a particular height above the ground. Standards may be adjusted to raise and lower the bar and also to adjust the horizontal position of the bar. Steps : Since the box is in a fixed position, vaulters must adjust their approach to ensure they are in the correct position when attempting to vault. Swing leg or trail leg : The swing leg is also the jump foot. After a vaulter has left the ground, the leg that was last touching the ground stays extended and swings forward to help propel the vaulter upwards. Volzing : A method of holding or pushing the bar back onto the pegs while jumping over a height. This takes considerable skill, although it is now against the rules and counted as a miss. The technique is named after U.S. Olympian Dave Volz, who made an art form of the practice and surprised many by making the U.S. Olympic team in 1992. All - time top 25 athletes See also : Men 's pole vault world record progression, Women 's pole vault world record progression, and Men 's pole vault indoor world record progression Key set prior to IAAF acceptance of indoor events as equivalent with outdoor events ( in 2000 ) Men ( comprehensive ) Correct as of June 2017 Rank Mark Athlete Date Venue Ref 6.16 m ( 20 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) 15 February 2014 Donetsk ( indoor ) 6.15 m ( 20 ft 2 in ) Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) 21 February 1993 Donetsk ( indoor ) 6.06 m ( 19 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) Steve Hooker ( AUS ) 7 February 2009 Boston ( indoor ) 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) 16 June 1999 Athens Dmitri Markov ( AUS ) 9 August 2001 Edmonton 6 6.04 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Brad Walker ( USA ) 8 June 2008 Eugene 7 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Okkert Brits ( RSA ) 18 August 1995 Cologne Jeff Hartwig ( USA ) 14 June 2000 Jonesboro Thiago Braz da Silva ( BRA ) 15 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro 10 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) Radion Gataullin ( URS ) 4 February 1989 Gomel ( indoor ) 11 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Igor Trandenkov ( RUS ) 4 July 1996 Saint Petersburg Timothy Mack ( USA ) 18 September 2004 Monaco Yevgeny Lukyanenko ( RUS ) 1 July 2008 Bydgoszcz Björn Otto ( GER ) 5 September 2012 Aachen 15 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Tim Lobinger ( GER ) 27 August 1997 Cologne Jean Galfione ( FRA ) 6 March 1999 Maebashi ( indoor ) Danny Ecker ( GER ) 11 February 2001 Dortmund ( indoor ) Toby Stevenson ( USA ) 8 May 2004 Modesto Paul Burgess ( AUS ) 25 February 2005 Perth Piotr Lisek ( POL ) 4 February 2017 Potsdam ( indoor ) Sam Kendricks ( USA ) 24 June 2017 Sacramento 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) A Shawnacy Barber ( CAN ) 15 January 2016 Reno ( indoor ) 23 5.98 m ( 19 ft 7 ​ ⁄ in ) Lawrence Johnson ( USA ) 25 May 1996 Knoxville 24 5.97 m ( 19 ft 7 in ) Scott Huffman ( USA ) 18 June 1994 Knoxville 25 5.96 m ( 19 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Joe Dial ( USA ) 18 June 1987 Norman ( indoor ) Notes Below is a list of vaults equal or superior to 6.00 m. Sergey Bubka also vaulted 6.14 m ( 20 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1993, 1994 ), 6.13 m ( 20 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1992 ), 6.12 m ( 20 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1991 ), 6.11 m ( 20 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1991 ), 6.10 m ( 20 ft 0 in ) ( 1991 ), 6.08 m ( 19 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1991 ), 6.06 m ( 19 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1988, 1993 ), 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) ( 1990, 1993, 1994, 1997 ), 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1987, 1989 ), 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) ( 1996 ), 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 1986, 1993 ), and 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) ( 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 ). Renaud Lavillenie also vaulted 6.08 m ( 19 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2014 ), 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) ( 2015 ), 6.04 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2014, 2015 ), 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2011, 2016 ), 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) ( 2015, 2016 ), 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2009, 2013, 2015 ) and 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) ( 2015 ). Steve Hooker also vaulted 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2010 ) and 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) ( 2008 ). Radion Gataullin also vaulted 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) ( 1989, 1993 ). Maksim Tarasov also vaulted 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) ( 1999 ). Women ( comprehensive ) Correct as of March 2018 Rank Mark Athlete Date Place Ref 5.06 m ( 16 ft 7 in ) Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) 28 August 2009 Zürich 5.03 m ( 16 ft 6 in ) Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) 30 January 2016 Brockport ( indoor ) 5.00 m ( 16 ft 4 ​ ⁄ in ) Sandi Morris ( USA ) 9 September 2016 Brussels 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) 2 August 2015 Beckum Katerina Stefanidi ( GRE ) 6 August 2017 London 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) A Katie Nageotte ( USA ) 18 February 2018 Albuquerque ( indoor ) 7 4.90 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) Demi Payne ( USA ) 20 February 2016 New York City ( indoor ) Anzhelika Sidorova ( RUS ) 3 March 2018 Birmingham ( indoor ) 9 4.88 m ( 16 ft 0 in ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 4 July 2004 Heraklion 10 4.87 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) Holly Bleasdale ( GBR ) 21 January 2012 Villeurbanne ( indoor ) Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) 3 July 2016 São Bernardo do Campo 12 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) Anna Rogowska ( POL ) 6 March 2011 Paris ( indoor ) 13 4.83 m ( 15 ft 10 in ) Stacy Dragila ( USA ) 8 June 2004 Ostrava Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou ( GRE ) 4 July 2015 Saint - Denis 15 4.82 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) 22 September 2007 Stuttgart Silke Spiegelburg ( GER ) 21 July 2012 Fontvieille Eliza McCartney ( NZL ) 26 February 2017 North Shore 18 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Alana Boyd ( AUS ) 2 July 2016 Sunshine Coast 19 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Martina Strutz ( GER ) 30 August 2011 Daegu Nicole Büchler ( SUI ) 17 March 2016 Portland ( indoor ) 21 4.78 m ( 15 ft 8 in ) Tatyana Polnova ( RUS ) 19 September 2004 Monaco 22 4.77 m ( 15 ft 7 ​ ⁄ in ) Annika Becker ( GER ) 7 July 2002 Wattenscheid 23 4.76 m ( 15 ft 7 ​ ⁄ in ) Jirina Ptacnikova ( CZE ) 4 September 2013 Plzen 24 4.75 m ( 15 ft 7 in ) Katerina Badurova ( CZE ) 28 August 2007 Osaka Yuliya Golubchikova ( RUS ) 18 August 2008 Beijing 4.75 m ( 15 ft 7 in ) A Kylie Hutson ( USA ) 2 March 2013 Albuquerque ( indoor ) 4.75 m ( 15 ft 7 in ) Lisa Ryzih ( GER ) 4 March 2017 Belgrade ( indoor ) Alysha Newman ( CAN ) 27 August 2017 Beckum Notes Below is a list of vaults equal or superior to 4.80 m : Yelena Isinbayeva also vaulted 5.05 m ( 16 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2008 ), 5.01 m ( 16 ft 5 in ) ( 2005, 2012 ), 5.00 m ( 16 ft 4 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2009 ), 4.95 m ( 16 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2008 ), 4.93 m ( 16 ft 2 in ) ( 2007 ), 4.92 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2004 ), 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2006, 2007 ), 4.90 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2005, 2016 ), 4.89 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2013 ), 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2004 ), 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2010, 2011 ), and 4.82 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2003, 2015, 2016 ). Jennifer Suhr also vaulted 5.02 m ( 16 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2013 ), 5.01 m ( 16 ft 5 in ) ( 2016 ), 4.92 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2008 ), 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2011, 2013 ), 4.89 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2010 ), 4.88 m ( 16 ft 0 in ) ( 2007, 2012 ), 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2011 ), 4.83 m ( 15 ft 10 in ) ( 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018 ), 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2009, 2018i ), and 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ). Sandi Morris also vaulted 4.95 m ( 16 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016, 2018i ), 4.93 m ( 16 ft 2 in ) ( 2016 ), 4.90 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( A ) ( 2018 ), 4.87 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ), 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( 2018 ), 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ), 4.84 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ), 4.83 m ( 15 ft 10 in ) ( 2016 ), and 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017, 2018i ). Katerina Stefanidi also vaulted 4.90 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ), 4.87 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ), 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ), 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016, 2017 ), 4.83 m ( 15 ft 10 in ) ( 2015, 2018i ), 4.82 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017, 2018i ), 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016, 2017, 2018i ), and 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018i ). Katie Nageotte also vaulted 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( 2018 ) and 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( 2018 ). Fabiana Murer also vaulted 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2010 ). Yarisley Silva also vaulted 4.84 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ), 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ). Anzhelika Sidorova also vaulted 4.87 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( 2018 ), 4.86 m ( 15 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) i ( 2018 ), 4.85 m ( 15 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016, 2018i ), 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2015, 2018i ). Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou also vaulted 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ), 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2015 ). Holly Bradshaw also vaulted 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ) and 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2017 ). Alana Boyd also vaulted 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ). Eliza McCartney also vaulted 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) ( 2016 ). Six metres Club The `` six metres club '' consists of pole vaulters who have reached at least 6.00. In 1985 Sergey Bubka became the first pole vaulter to clear six metres. Measure Athlete Nation Outdoors Indoors Year first cleared 6 metres 6.16 Renaud Lavillenie France 6.05 6.16 2009 6.15 Sergey Bubka Soviet Union / Ukraine 6.14 6.15 1985 6.06 Steve Hooker Australia 6.00 6.06 2008 6.05 Maksim Tarasov Russia 6.05 6.00 1997 Dmitri Markov Belarus / Australia 6.05 1998 6.04 Brad Walker United States 6.04 5.86 2006 6.03 Okkert Brits South Africa 6.03 1995 Jeff Hartwig United States 6.03 6.02 1998 Thiago Braz da Silva Brazil 6.03 2016 6.02 Rodion Gataullin Soviet Union / Russia 6.00 6.02 1989 6.01 Igor Trandenkov Russia 6.01 Timothy Mack United States 6.01 Yevgeniy Lukyanenko Russia 6.01 2008 Björn Otto Germany 6.01 2012 6.00 Tim Lobinger Germany 6.00 1997 Jean Galfione France 6.00 1999 Danny Ecker Germany 6.00 2001 Toby Stevenson United States 6.00 Paul Burgess Australia 6.00 2005 Shawnacy Barber Canada 6.00 2016 Piotr Lisek Poland 6.00 2017 Sam Kendricks United States 6.00 2017 Five metres Club Three women have cleared 5 metres. Yelena Isinbayeva was the first to clear 5.00 m ( 16 ft 4 ​ ⁄ in ) on July 22, 2005. On March 2, 2013, Jenn Suhr cleared 5.02 m ( 16 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) indoors to become the second. Sandi Morris cleared 5.00 meters on September 9, 2016, to become the third. Milestones This is a list of the first time a milestone height was cleared. Measure Athlete Nation Date 13 ft ( 3.96 m ) Robert Gardner United States 1 June 1912 4 m ( 13 ft 1 ⁄ in ) Marc Wright United States 8 June 1912 14 ft ( 4.27 m ) Sabin Carr United States 27 May 1927 4.5 m ( 14 ft 9 in ) William Sefton United States 29 May 1937 15 ft ( 4.57 m ) Cornelius `` Dutch '' Warmerdam United States 13 April 1940 16 ft ( 4.88 m ) John Uelses United States 31 March 1962 5 m ( 16 ft 5 in ) Brian Sternberg United States 27 April 1963 17 ft ( 5.18 m ) John Pennel United States 24 August 1963 18 ft ( 5.49 m ) Christos Papanikolaou Greece 24 October 1970 5.5 m ( 18 ft ⁄ in ) Kjell Isaksson Sweden 8 April 1972 19 ft ( 5.79 m ) Thierry Vigneron France 20 June 1981 6 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Sergey Bubka Soviet Union 13 July 1985 20 ft ( 6.10 m ) Sergey Bubka Soviet Union 16 March 1991 ( indoors ) 5 August 1991 ( outdoors ) Olympic medalists Men Games Gold Silver Bronze 1896 Athens details William Hoyt ( USA ) Albert Tyler ( USA ) Evangelos Damaskos ( GRE ) Ioannis Theodoropoulos ( GRE ) 1900 Paris details Irving Baxter ( USA ) Meredith Colket ( USA ) Carl Albert Andersen ( NOR ) 1904 St. Louis details Charles Dvorak ( USA ) LeRoy Samse ( USA ) Louis Wilkins ( USA ) 1908 London details Edward Cook ( USA ) none awarded Edward Archibald ( CAN ) Clare Jacobs ( USA ) Alfred Gilbert ( USA ) Bruno Söderström ( SWE ) 1912 Stockholm details Harry Babcock ( USA ) Frank Nelson ( USA ) William Halpenny ( CAN ) Frank Murphy ( USA ) Marc Wright ( USA ) Bertil Uggla ( SWE ) 1920 Antwerp details Frank Foss ( USA ) Henry Petersen ( DEN ) Edwin Myers ( USA ) 1924 Paris details Lee Barnes ( USA ) Glen Graham ( USA ) James Brooker ( USA ) 1928 Amsterdam details Sabin Carr ( USA ) William Droegemueller ( USA ) Charles McGinnis ( USA ) 1932 Los Angeles details Bill Miller ( USA ) Shuhei Nishida ( JPN ) George Jefferson ( USA ) 1936 Berlin details Earle Meadows ( USA ) Shuhei Nishida ( JPN ) Sueo Ōe ( JPN ) 1948 London details Guinn Smith ( USA ) Erkki Kataja ( FIN ) Bob Richards ( USA ) 1952 Helsinki details Bob Richards ( USA ) Don Laz ( USA ) Ragnar Lundberg ( SWE ) 1956 Melbourne details Bob Richards ( USA ) Bob Gutowski ( USA ) Georgios Roubanis ( GRE ) 1960 Rome details Don Bragg ( USA ) Ron Morris ( USA ) Eeles Landström ( FIN ) 1964 Tokyo details Fred Hansen ( USA ) Wolfgang Reinhardt ( EUA ) Klaus Lehnertz ( EUA ) 1968 Mexico City details Bob Seagren ( USA ) Claus Schiprowski ( FRG ) Wolfgang Nordwig ( GDR ) 1972 Munich details Wolfgang Nordwig ( GDR ) Bob Seagren ( USA ) Jan Johnson ( USA ) 1976 Montreal details Tadeusz Ślusarski ( POL ) Antti Kalliomäki ( FIN ) David Roberts ( USA ) 1980 Moscow details Władysław Kozakiewicz ( POL ) Tadeusz Ślusarski ( POL ) none awarded Konstantin Volkov ( URS ) 1984 Los Angeles details Pierre Quinon ( FRA ) Mike Tully ( USA ) Earl Bell ( USA ) Thierry Vigneron ( FRA ) 1988 Seoul details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Radion Gataullin ( URS ) Grigoriy Yegorov ( URS ) 1992 Barcelona details Maksim Tarasov ( EUN ) Igor Trandenkov ( EUN ) Javier García ( ESP ) 1996 Atlanta details Jean Galfione ( FRA ) Igor Trandenkov ( RUS ) Andrei Tivontchik ( GER ) 2000 Sydney details Nick Hysong ( USA ) Lawrence Johnson ( USA ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) 2004 Athens details Timothy Mack ( USA ) Toby Stevenson ( USA ) Giuseppe Gibilisco ( ITA ) 2008 Beijing details Steve Hooker ( AUS ) Yevgeny Lukyanenko ( RUS ) Denys Yurchenko ( UKR ) 2012 London details Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Björn Otto ( GER ) Raphael Holzdeppe ( GER ) 2016 Rio de Janeiro details Thiago Braz da Silva ( BRA ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Sam Kendricks ( USA ) Women Games Gold Silver Bronze 2000 Sydney details Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Tatiana Grigorieva ( AUS ) Vala Flosadóttir ( ISL ) 2004 Athens details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Anna Rogowska ( POL ) 2008 Beijing details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Jennifer Stuczynski ( USA ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 2012 London details Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) 2016 Rio de Janeiro details Katerina Stefanidi ( GRE ) Sandi Morris ( USA ) Eliza McCartney ( NZL ) World Championships medalists Men Championships Gold Silver Bronze 1983 Helsinki details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Konstantin Volkov ( URS ) Atanas Tarev ( BUL ) 1987 Rome details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Thierry Vigneron ( FRA ) Radion Gataullin ( URS ) 1991 Tokyo details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) István Bagyula ( HUN ) Maksim Tarasov ( URS ) 1993 Stuttgart details Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Grigoriy Yegorov ( KAZ ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) Igor Trandenkov ( RUS ) 1995 Gothenburg details Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) Jean Galfione ( FRA ) 1997 Athens details Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) Dean Starkey ( USA ) 1999 Seville details Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) Dmitri Markov ( AUS ) Aleksandr Averbukh ( ISR ) 2001 Edmonton details Dmitri Markov ( AUS ) Aleksandr Averbukh ( ISR ) Nick Hysong ( USA ) 2003 Saint - Denis details Giuseppe Gibilisco ( ITA ) Okkert Brits ( RSA ) Patrik Kristiansson ( SWE ) 2005 Helsinki details Rens Blom ( NED ) Brad Walker ( USA ) Pavel Gerasimov ( RUS ) 2007 Osaka details Brad Walker ( USA ) Romain Mesnil ( FRA ) Danny Ecker ( GER ) 2009 Berlin details Steve Hooker ( AUS ) Romain Mesnil ( FRA ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) 2011 Daegu details Paweł Wojciechowski ( POL ) Lázaro Borges ( CUB ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) 2013 Moscow details Raphael Holzdeppe ( GER ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Björn Otto ( GER ) 2015 Beijing details Shawnacy Barber ( CAN ) Raphael Holzdeppe ( GER ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Pawel Wojciechowski ( POL ) Piotr Lisek ( POL ) 2017 London details Sam Kendricks ( USA ) Piotr Lisek ( POL ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Women Championships Gold Silver Bronze 1999 Seville details Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Anzhela Balakhonova ( UKR ) Tatiana Grigorieva ( AUS ) 2001 Edmonton details Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) 2003 Saint - Denis details Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Annika Becker ( GER ) Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) 2005 Helsinki details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) Pavla Hamáčková ( CZE ) 2007 Osaka details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Kateřina Baďurová ( CZE ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 2009 Berlin details Anna Rogowska ( POL ) Chelsea Johnson ( USA ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) none awarded 2011 Daegu details Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) Martina Strutz ( GER ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 2013 Moscow details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Jenn Suhr ( USA ) Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) 2015 Beijing details Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou ( GRE ) 2017 London details Ekaterini Stefanidi ( GRE ) Sandi Morris ( USA ) Robeilys Peinado ( VEN ) Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) World Indoor Championships medalists Men Games Gold Silver Bronze 1985 Paris Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Thierry Vigneron ( FRA ) Vasiliy Bubka ( URS ) 1987 Indianapolis details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Earl Bell ( USA ) Thierry Vigneron ( FRA ) 1989 Budapest details Radion Gataullin ( URS ) Grigoriy Yegorov ( URS ) Joe Dial ( USA ) 1991 Seville details Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Viktor Ryzhenkov ( URS ) Ferenc Salbert ( FRA ) 1993 Toronto details Radion Gataullin ( RUS ) Grigoriy Yegorov ( KAZ ) Jean Galfione ( FRA ) 1995 Barcelona details Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Igor Potapovich ( KAZ ) Okkert Brits ( RSA ) Andrei Tivontchik ( GER ) 1997 Paris details Igor Potapovich ( KAZ ) Lawrence Johnson ( USA ) Maksim Tarasov ( RUS ) 1999 Maebashi details Jean Galfione ( FRA ) Jeff Hartwig ( USA ) Danny Ecker ( GER ) 2001 Lisbon details Lawrence Johnson ( USA ) Tye Harvey ( USA ) Romain Mesnil ( FRA ) 2003 Birmingham details Tim Lobinger ( GER ) Michael Stolle ( GER ) Rens Blom ( NED ) 2004 Budapest details Igor Pavlov ( RUS ) Adam Ptáček ( CZE ) Denys Yurchenko ( UKR ) 2006 Moscow details Brad Walker ( USA ) Alhaji Jeng ( SWE ) Tim Lobinger ( GER ) 2008 Valencia details Yevgeny Lukyanenko ( RUS ) Brad Walker ( USA ) Steve Hooker ( AUS ) 2010 Doha details Steve Hooker ( AUS ) Malte Mohr ( GER ) Alexander Straub ( USA ) 2012 Istanbul details Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Björn Otto ( GER ) Brad Walker ( USA ) 2014 Sopot details Konstadinos Filippidis ( GRE ) Malte Mohr ( GER ) Jan Kudlička ( CZE ) 2016 Portland details Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Sam Kendricks ( USA ) Piotr Lisek ( POL ) 2018 Birmingham details Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Sam Kendricks ( USA ) Piotr Lisek ( POL ) Known as the World Indoor Games Women Games Gold Silver Bronze 1997 Paris details Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Emma George ( AUS ) Cai Weiyan ( CHN ) 1999 Maebashi details Nastja Ryshich ( GER ) Vala Flosadóttir ( ISL ) Nicole Humbert ( GER ) Zsuzsanna Szabó - Olgyai ( HUN ) 2001 Lisbon details Pavla Hamáčková ( CZE ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Kellie Suttle ( USA ) none awarded 2003 Birmingham details Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) 2004 Budapest details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 2006 Moscow details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Anna Rogowska ( POL ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) 2008 Valencia details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Jennifer Stuczynski ( USA ) Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) Monika Pyrek ( POL ) 2010 Doha details Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Anna Rogowska ( POL ) 2012 Istanbul details Yelena Isinbayeva ( RUS ) Vanessa Boslak ( FRA ) Holly Bleasdale ( GBR ) 2014 Sopot details Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) Anzhelika Sidorova ( RUS ) Jiřina Svobodová ( CZE ) none awarded 2016 Portland details Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) Sandi Morris ( USA ) Katerina Stefanidi ( GRE ) 2018 Birmingham details Sandi Morris ( USA ) Anzhelika Sidorova ( ANA ) Katerina Stefanidi ( GRE ) Season 's bests Men Year Height Athlete Location 1970 5.49 m ( 18 ft 0 in ) Christos Papanikolaou ( GRE ) Athens 1971 5.43 m ( 17 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Kjell Isaksson ( SWE ) Siena 1972 5.63 m ( 18 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) Bob Seagren ( USA ) Eugene 1973 5.49 m ( 18 ft 0 in ) Steve Smith ( USA ) New York City 5.53 m ( 18 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Steve Smith ( USA ) Pocatello 5.65 m ( 18 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) David Roberts ( USA ) Gainesville 1976 5.70 m ( 18 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) David Roberts ( USA ) Eugene 1977 5.66 m ( 18 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz ( POL ) Warsaw 1978 5.71 m ( 18 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Mike Tully ( USA ) Corvallis 1979 5.65 m ( 18 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Patrick Abada ( FRA ) Philippe Houvion ( FRA ) Paris 1980 5.78 m ( 18 ft 11 ​ ⁄ in ) Wladyslaw Kozakiewicz ( POL ) Moscow 1981 5.81 m ( 19 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) Vladimir Polyakov ( URS ) Tbilisi 1982 5.75 m ( 18 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) Dave Volz ( USA ) Jean - Michel Bellot ( FRA ) Nice Colombes 5.83 m ( 19 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Thierry Vigneron ( FRA ) Rome 1984 5.94 m ( 19 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Rome 1985 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Paris 1986 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Moscow 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Prague 6.06 m ( 19 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Nice 1989 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) i Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Osaka 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) i Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Donetsk 1991 6.12 m ( 20 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) i Sergey Bubka ( URS ) Grenoble 1992 6.13 m ( 20 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Tokyo ; Berlin 1993 6.15 m ( 20 ft 2 in ) i Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Donetsk 1994 6.14 m ( 20 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Sestriere 1995 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Okkert Brits ( RSA ) Cologne 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Atlanta 1997 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) Sergey Bubka ( UKR ) Fukuoka 1998 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Jeff Hartwig ( USA ) Uniondale 1999 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) Maxim Tarasov ( RUS ) Athens 2000 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Jeff Hartwig ( USA ) Jonesboro 2001 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) Dmitriy Markov ( AUS ) Edmonton 2002 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) i Jeff Hartwig ( USA ) Sindelfingen 2003 5.95 m ( 19 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Romain Mesnil ( FRA ) Castres 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Timothy Mack ( USA ) Monaco 2005 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Paul Burgess ( AUS ) Perth 2006 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Brad Walker ( USA ) Jockgrim 2007 5.95 m ( 19 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Brad Walker ( USA ) Brisbane 2008 6.04 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Brad Walker ( USA ) Eugene 2009 6.06 m ( 19 ft 10 ​ ⁄ in ) Steve Hooker ( AUS ) Boston 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) i Steve Hooker ( AUS ) Doha 2011 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) i Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Paris 2012 6.01 m ( 19 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Björn Otto ( GER ) Aachen 2013 6.02 m ( 19 ft 9 in ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) London 2014 6.16 m ( 20 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) i Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Donetsk 2015 6.05 m ( 19 ft 10 in ) Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Eugene 2016 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Thiago Braz ( BRA ) Rio de Janeiro 6.03 m ( 19 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) i Renaud Lavillenie ( FRA ) Jablonec 2017 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) i Piotr Lisek ( POL ) Potsdam 6.00 m ( 19 ft 8 in ) Sam Kendricks ( USA ) Sacramento Women Year Height Athlete Location 1991 4.05 m ( 13 ft 3 ​ ⁄ in ) Zhang Chunzhen ( CHN ) Guangzhou 1992 4.05 m ( 13 ft 3 ​ ⁄ in ) Sun Caiyun ( CHN ) Nanjing 1993 4.11 m ( 13 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) Sun Caiyun ( CHN ) Guangzhou 1994 4.12 m ( 13 ft 6 in ) Sun Caiyun ( CHN ) Guangzhou 1995 4.28 m ( 14 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) Emma George ( AUS ) Perth 4.45 m ( 14 ft 7 in ) Emma George ( AUS ) Sapporo 1997 4.55 m ( 14 ft 11 in ) Emma George ( AUS ) Melbourne 1998 4.59 m ( 15 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) Emma George ( AUS ) Brisbane 1999 4.60 m ( 15 ft 1 in ) Emma George ( AUS ) Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Sydney Seville 2000 4.63 m ( 15 ft 2 ​ ⁄ in ) Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Sacramento 2001 4.81 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Stacy Dragila ( USA ) Palo Alto 2002 4.78 m ( 15 ft 8 in ) Svetlana Feofanova ( RUS ) Stockholm 2003 4.82 m ( 15 ft 9 ​ ⁄ in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Gateshead 4.92 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Brussels 2005 5.01 m ( 16 ft 5 in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Helsinki 2006 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) London ; Donetsk 2007 4.93 m ( 16 ft 2 in ) i Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Donetsk 2008 5.05 m ( 16 ft 6 ​ ⁄ in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Beijing 2009 5.06 m ( 16 ft 7 in ) Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Zürich 4.89 m ( 16 ft 0 ​ ⁄ in ) Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) Des Moines 2011 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) Rochester 2012 5.01 m ( 16 ft 5 in ) i Elena Isinbaeva ( RUS ) Stockholm 2013 5.02 m ( 16 ft 5 ​ ⁄ in ) Ai Jennifer Suhr ( USA ) Albuquerque 2014 4.80 m ( 15 ft 8 ​ ⁄ in ) Fabiana Murer ( BRA ) New York City 2015 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Yarisley Silva ( CUB ) Beckum 2016 5.03 m ( 16 ft 6 in ) i Jenn Suhr ( USA ) Brockport 2017 4.91 m ( 16 ft 1 ​ ⁄ in ) Katerina Stefanidi ( GRE ) London `` i '' denotes indoor performance. `` A '' denotes performance at higher than 1,000 metres ( 3,300 ft ) altitude. Notes and references Jump up ^ Rosenbaum, Mike. Yelena Isinbayeva : Pole Vault Record - Breaker. About Track and Field. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ Rudman, Steve ( 31 May 2013 ). Huskies vault legend Brian Sternberg ( 1943 - 13 ). Sports Press NW. Retrieved on 2014 - 01 - 25. Jump up ^ `` Info ''. Polsstokverspringen / Fierljeppen Holland. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012. Jump up ^ http://www.pureskyvaulting.com/Some%20Cool%20Stuff/First25Pages.pdf Jump up ^ Turnbull, Simon ( 13 June 2009 ). Kate Dennison : ' It helps being a little bit crazy '. The Independent. Retrieved on 2009 - 06 - 15. Jump up ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19620207&id=CWxPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MwUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4887,840268 Jump up ^ `` 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics : IAAF Statistics Handbook. Berlin 2009 '' ( PDF ). Monte Carlo : IAAF Media & Public Relations Department. 2009. p. 546. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2009. Jump up ^ McCormick, Matthew. Soaring to New Heights : The Evolution of Pole Vaulting and Pole Materials. Illumin. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ Pole Vault - men - senior - outdoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ Pole Vault - men - senior - indoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). Rio 2016 official website. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results ''. Deutscher Leichtathletik - Verband. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Sam Kendricks Talks About Joining 6 Meter Club in Pole Vault, Being Most Efficient Vaulter in the World ''. letsrun.com. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). polevaultsummit.files.wordpress.com. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016. Jump up ^ Pole Vault - women - senior - outdoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ Pole Vault - women - senior - indoor. IAAF. Retrieved on 25 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jenn Suhr Sets Indoor Pole Vault World Record ''. flotrack.org. January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). sportresult.com. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). IAAF. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017. Jump up ^ USATF ( 18 February 2018 ). `` Coleman breaks world indoor 60m record with 6.34 in Clemson ''. USATF. Retrieved 18 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` Stefanidi and Payne clear 4.90 m at Millrose Games - indoor round - up ''. IAAF. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Women 's Pole Vault Results ''. IAAF. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018. Jump up ^ Eduardo Biscayart ( 3 July 2016 ). `` Murer soars over South American record of 4.87 m at Brazilian Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 3 July 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results ''. IAAF. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015. Jump up ^ Leggat, Dylan ( 26 February 2017 ). `` Athletics : Eliza McCartney breaks national record ''. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Alana Boyd breaks Australian pole vault record to surge into Rio medal running ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). IAAF. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pole Vault Results '' ( PDF ). European Athletics. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Alysha Newman jumps 4.75 metres, betters her own Canadian pole vault record ''. nationalpost.com. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017. Jump up ^ US unit calculator for unofficial mark conversions in athletic events, hosted by USATF.org Jump up ^ http://trackfield.brinkster.net/RecProgression.asp?RecCode=WR&EventCode=MF2&P=F Jump up ^ Note : Earle Meadows cleared the same height minutes later in the same competition External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pole vault. IAAF list of pole - vault records in XML All - time Masters men 's Pole Vault list All - time Masters women 's Pole Vault list Athletics events Track and field Road running Racewalking Racerunning Cross country running Multi-day race Ultramarathon Wheelchair racing Backward running Track Sprints 50 m 55 m 60 m 100 y 100 m 150 m 200 m ( straight ) 300 m 400 m Hurdles 50 m 55 m 60 m 80 m 100 m 110 m 200 m ( low ) 300 m 400 m Middle - distance 500 m 600 m 800 m 1000 m 1500 m One mile 2000 m 2000 m steeplechase 3000 m 3000 m steeplechase Two miles Long - distance 5000 m 10,000 m One hour run Relays 4 × 100 m 4 × 200 m 4 × 400 m 4 × 800 m 4 × 1500 m Distance medley relay Sprint medley relay Swedish relay Walking Mile 3000 m 5000 m 10,000 m 20,000 m Field Throws Discus Hammer Javelin Shot put Weight throw Softball throw Jumps High jump ( standing ) Long jump ( standing ) Triple jump ( standing ) Pole vault Combined Decathlon Heptathlon Athletics pentathlon Women 's pentathlon Throws pentathlon Road Running 5 km 10 km 15 km 10 mi 20 km Half marathon 25 km 30 km Marathon Ekiden Ultramarathon Walking 10 km 20 km 50 km 50 mi 100 km Current Olympic events shown in italics GND : 4056685 - 7 Athletics portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pole_vault&oldid=833758237 '' Categories : Pole vault Events in athletics ( track and field ) Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics Jumping sports Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from March 2016 Pages using deprecated image syntax Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu বাংলা Башҡортса Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Frysk 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Қазақша Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Limburgs Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский संस्कृतम् සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் తెలుగు Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt ייִדיש 粵語 中文 43 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 April 2018, at 08 : 30. 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Question: how long is the pole in the pole vault
Answer: as short as 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) to as long as 5.30 m (17 ft 5 in)