History Of The Pole Vault

Pole vault originated from ancient humans using wooden sticks and spears to jump over obstacles. According to records, there was a game of crossing the river in Ireland in 554 AD. Pole vault is a gymnastic event popular in German schools. In 1789, the German Busch jumped 1.83 meters, which was the earliest documented result in the world. As a track and field sport, it was first developed in the UK. On April 17, 1843, the British professional John Roper crossed 2.44 meters in Penrith. It became popular in European countries at the end of the 19th century. Pole poles were the first to use wooden poles, with a maximum score of 3.30 meters; in 1905, lighter weight and flexible bamboo poles were used, with a maximum score of 4.77 meters; in 1930, a relatively strong metal pole appeared, and athletes did not worry about breaking the pole. It can increase the grip point and speed up the approach speed, and the best result is 4.80 meters. In 1948, the United States designed and manufactured a lighter and more flexible fiberglass pole, which has exceeded the height of 6 meters. The poles of the pole vault can be made of fiberglass, metal or other suitable materials, with a length of 4.48 to 4.52 meters and a maximum weight of 2.25 kg. The length and diameter of the pole are not limited, but the surface must be smooth. Athletes usually bring their own poles to participate in the competition. Men's and women's pole vaulting were listed as Olympic events in 1896 and 2000 respectively.