The pole vault is a variation on the high jump that allows competitors to get more height through the use of a fiberglass or carbon fiber pole. This flexible pole replaced the earlier solid poles as it allows for greater heights. Pole Vaulting was part of ancient Greek, Cretan and Celt competitions and has been a staple in Men’s Olympic track events since 1896, but did not enter the Women’s competition until 2000. As with almost all Ancient events, the reasons for the challenge were military. Poles were used to clear natural obstacles throughout Europe. In those days, the vaults were measured for distance, not height. Areas around the North Sea, where poles were used to get across marshy areas by laymen and soldiers alike, still hold distance jumping competitions.

Modern pole vaulting was first seen in the 1840′s in Italy and Germany, but was honed towards the end of the 19th century in the United States. The competition for pole vaulting is similar to the high jump, as both are large vertical jumps. Participants don’t need to begin at the first (lowest) height; all vaulters can choose the height at which they enter competition. Each vaulter has three attempts to clear the bar. At the end of each round the bar is raised, and competitors repeat the process. After an athlete fails to clear the bar in three attempts he resigns competition, with the last cleared height being his official score.

One confusing rule about pole vaulting: Athletes can choose to pass onto the next height without clearing the bar, but they must pass the second height taking on the failures from the previous round (if an athlete has two failures at the previous height, he must clear the bar on his first attempt to avoid elimination.) The competitor who clears the highest bar is the victor. If there is a tie for clearance and number of misses, there is a sudden death jump-off.