What Are the Heights for Pole Vaulting?

Pole vaulting is a track and field sport where an athlete attempts to propel herself over an elevated bar using a thin pole. After each successful jump, the bar is raised. The athlete who jumps the highest without knocking down the bar will prevail. Therefore, reaching new heights is very important for success at pole vaulting.

  1. Unit of Measurement and Procedure

    • The height of the bar in pole vaulting is generally measured in meters. At competition, a pole vaulter can choose the height that he would like to start at when he enters a competition. Pole vaulters have three chances to clear each height that they attempt. If they miss a height three times in a row, they will be out of the competition. In high school competitions in the United States, heights can also be measured in feet.

    World Record Heights

    • The men's world record holder is Sergey Bubka, who cleared 6.14 meters in 1994. The women's world record holder is Elena Isinbaeva, who cleared 5.08 meters in 2009.

    The Six Metres Club

    • The Six Metres Club is a prestigious and exclusive club for pole vaulters who have jumped over 6 meters. There are currently only men in this club, as women have yet to break the 6-meter mark in competition.

    United States High School Pole Vault Records

    • In the United States, pole vaulting in high school competitions is often measured in feet instead of meters. For high school boys, the top record holders have all cleared 18 feet. For high school girls, the top heights are above the 14-foot mark.