Pole vault is a track and field event in which athletes use a long, flexible pole to propel themselves over a bar. The objective of the event is to clear the bar at the highest height possible without knocking it down.
The sport requires a combination of speed, strength, and technique. Athletes must have a strong grip, upper body strength, and the ability to generate a lot of speed on the runway before planting the pole and launching themselves into the air. The athlete must then have the coordination and body control to clear the bar and land safely on a soft mat.
The history of pole vaulting can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who used a long stick to jump over bulls. However, modern pole vaulting as we know it today has evolved significantly since then. The first recorded pole vault competition was held in the mid-19th century, and the sport has since become a staple of track and field competitions at all levels, from local high school meets to the Olympic Games.
History
In marshy regions like the Dutch province of Friesland, along the North Sea, and the vast expanse of the Fens in England encompassing Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, poles were employed as a practical means of navigating around natural impediments. These marshes were artificially drained, resulting in the development of an interconnected network of open drains or canals. Every residence kept a stack of jumping poles that were used to jump over the canals to traverse them without getting wet and to avoid long circle trips across bridges.
Modern vaulting
One of the four jumping events used in track & field competitions today is the pole vault. The pole vault and high jump are both vertical jumps, hence the competitions are handled identically. Each athlete has the option of selecting their height for competition entry. They have three chances to clear the height when they enter. The vaulter moves on to the following height, where they will have three more attempts, if a height is cleared. The vaulter is eliminated from the competition after three straight misses, and their score is the highest height they cleared. When a vaulter fails to clear any bars during the competition, it is referred to as a “no height,” frequently abbreviated “NH.”
Technology
With solid ash poles, competitive pole vaulting got its start. Bamboo poles were replaced by tubular aluminum poles with tapering ends as the heights reached rose. The poles used by modern pole vaulters are made by wrapping pre-cut fiberglass sheets containing resin around a metal pole mandrel. This results in a slightly curved pole that bends more easily under the compression brought on by an athlete’s take-off. To achieve the necessary length and rigidity of the pole, the shape of the fiberglass sheets and the quantity of fiberglass utilized are carefully considered. The features of poles are customized using various fiber types, including carbon fiber, to encourage higher jumps. Recent years have seen the addition of carbon fiber to the often used E-glass (E for first electrical use).
Technique
The pole vaulter runs down the runway during approach in order to reach top speed and be in the ideal position to start takeoff at the conclusion of approach. The methods used by elite vaulters range from 18 to 22 strides, sometimes referred to as “steps” because every other foot is considered as one step. The vaulter runs powerfully in a calm, upright position with legs raised and torso tilting very slightly forward as they approach the vaulting pit. The vaulter increases speed as their body straightens out, with their head, shoulders, and hips in alignment.
Extension
The term “extension” describes how the shoulders drive down, turning the vaulter upside down, while the hips extend upward with the legs extended. “Inversion” is a common name for this position. The pole starts to recoil as this phase is completed, lifting the vaulter fast into the air. The vaulter’s hands remain close to the body as they transition from the area below the shins back to the area above the hips and upper torso.