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If you saw Armand “Mondo” Duplantis fly over the 6.25 meter (roughly 20.5 feet) bar at the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking his own world record, you’re likely in awe. The Swedish athlete is arguably the greatest pole vaulter of all time, and the packed stadium roared with excitement after his mega vault. (And people on social media are still not over the fact that, in an undeniably sweet moment, he immediately leapt up and ran to his girlfriend to celebrate.) But aside from questioning the laws of physics, you may be wondering if pole vaulters travel to the Games with their own poles.
As a former pole vaulter myself, one of the most common questions I’m asked about the sport is, “Do you have your own pole?” This is a complicated question, because the answer is both yes and no. Most vaulters don’t necessarily own their own poles — they’re provided by a university, club, coach, or sponsor — but they do have poles that travel with them to every competition. In other words, the track meet, in this case the Olympics, does not provide poles for the athletes.
But there’s a legit reason pole vaulters schlep (multiple) of their own poles to track and field competitions. Ahead, we break down everything you need to know.
Do Pole Vaulters Travel With Their Own Poles?
Yes. Pole vaulters do travel with their own poles, but it’s no easy feat. Sure, we all dread standing in line to check a bag at the airport, and the worst is having to pay an extra baggage fee. Well, now imagine traveling with a set of fiberglass poles stretching up to 17 feet long, in a protective case that can weigh up to 100 pounds. Athletes can easily spend hundreds of dollars, depending on the airline’s pricing, and some airlines won’t allow travelers to bring poles at all. It’s a logistical nightmare pole vaulters — even Olympic athletes — know all too well.
Most pole vault training facilities have about 30 or more different poles athletes can choose from, a number that may seem excessive but is actually the norm. On average, each vaulter will personally bring five or more of those poles to a meet — the same poles they use during practice.
In any given meet, a pole vaulter will then use two to five poles. Each pole is a different height and weight, and the bigger the pole, the higher an athlete will jump. Shorter poles are usually used for lower or opening heights, but the size of the pole also depends on an athlete’s weight, height, ability, and personal strength.
Men typically use larger and heavier poles than women, but every pole vaulter (and jump itself) is different.
Why Do Pole Vaulters Bring Their Own Poles to Meets?
Options, my friend. It’s all about options. Depending on how a vaulter is feeling that day, the weather conditions, and the speed of the runway (some runways have more bounce than others), a longer, shorter, heavier, or lighter pole may be necessary. There is technically no limit to how long or short a pole can be — it can be any length or diameter — so every vaulter will travel with a variety for any circumstance.
To keep things regulated, a judge must also approve any and all poles a vaulter plans or intends on using at the start of every meet. This is just a formality to inspect each pole and rule out illegal taping (tape on a pole cannot be thicker than two layers).
Pole vaulting is an intense sport requiring immense skill and technique, but the art of traveling with your poles adds another layer of serious commitment. The bottom line is yes, pole vaulters do use and travel with their own poles to meets — but compared to jumping 20 feet in the air, that’s a breeze.
Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere. She is a mass consumer of social media, former collegiate pole vaulter, and cares about holistic wellness and non-stigmatizing reproductive care.