Armand Duplantis (Sweden), with other pole vaulters, at the World Athletics Championships, Budapest (Hungary), August 23, 2023. BILDBYRAN / ICON SPORT
Crowned Olympic champion at the Helsinki Games in 1952, the American reverend Bob Richards had this to say: “I am the only priest in the world who is using his own means to get to heaven.” The vaulting vicar, the only pole vaulter to retain his title four years later at the 1956 Melbourne Games, was the author of his discipline’s most mystical definition.
Since its invention as a sport in 19th century England and the United States, pole vaulting has been a unique discipline, requiring both gymnastic and athletic skills. From the first bars at around 2 meters to peaks of over 6 meters, generations of pole vaulters have fascinated the crowds. This is likely to be the case again at the Paris Games, starting with the qualifications on Saturday, August 3 (final on August 5), where the Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis is one of the most anticipated athletes of the fortnight.
“When you’re jumping through the air with a 30-millimeter-diameter pole that you have to stick into a 20-centimeter target, you’ve got to be crazy,” said Slovenia’s Tina Sutej, who finished fourth at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Being a pole vaulter means being part of a brotherhood, united by a touch of madness.
It’s even a “family” matter, according to Philippe Collet. The former French record holder in the discipline from the 1990s speaks both literally – trained by his father, Jacques, he now coaches his sons, Mathieu and Thibaut, the reigning national champion – as well as figuratively. “When a guy who jumps 6 meters meets someone who clears 4 meters, he recognizes him as one of his own. There’s a particular state of mind that has always existed and still does,” he said.
Competitions reserved exclusively for the specialty have existed since the 1980s. Collet created his own, the Grenoble Masters, before exporting the concept to Donetsk, Ukraine at the request of Sergey Bubka, the former world record holder.
‘Competing with ourselves’
Since 2006, every winter season, the large pole vaulting family has gathered at the various stages of the Perche Elite Tour. On February 22, the event in Clermont-Ferrand, organized by Lavillenie, brought together some of the world’s best male and female pole vaulters. In front of 4,800 spectators, they made their entrance one by one in a presentation worthy of major American championships. “It’s a spectacular sport that doesn’t go unnoticed,” said Lavillenie. “It’s very visual and aesthetic. Adding a touch of showmanship helps bring people together.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-05 01:10:18
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