Definition
A track and field event where athletes use a long, flexible pole to propel themselves over a high bar. The goal is to clear the greatest height possible without knocking down the bar.
Etymology
From the combination of 'pole' (long stick) and 'vault' (to leap). The sport evolved from practical uses of poles to cross rivers and ditches, becoming a competitive event in the mid-1800s with standardized rules developing by the 1890s.
Kelly Says
Modern pole vaulting is essentially controlled falling—athletes reach speeds of 24 mph on their approach, then convert that horizontal energy into vertical lift using physics principles! The flexible fiberglass poles can bend into a complete U-shape, storing and releasing energy like a giant spring.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ሰላም እንዴት ነው
se-lam en-det ne-w
ARالعربية
قفز بالمعصمة
qafz bil-ma'sam
BNবাংলা
পোল ভাল্ট
pol val-t
CACatalà
salt amb pal
salt amb pal
CSČeština
tyčový skok
te-cho-vy skok
DEDeutsch
Stabhochsprung
shtab-hoh-shprang
ELΕλληνικά
μακροσκελής
makro-ske-lis
ESEspañol
vuelo con pértiga
bwe-loh kon per-TEE-gah
FAفارسی
پریدن با میله
par-i-dan ba mi-leh
FISuomi
vaipanheitto
vaip-an-heit-to
FRFrançais
saut à la perche
soh ah la per-sh
HAHA
kwanta da gida
kwan-ta da gee-da
HEעברית
קפיצה עם מקל
kaf-it-zah em ma-kel
HIहिन्दी
पोल वॉल्ट
pohl volht
HUMagyar
pálcás ugrás
pal-kash oo-gras
IDBahasa Indonesia
lompat dengan tongkat
lom-pat de-ngan tong-kat
IGIG
nkwu n'elu
nkwu n'elu
ITItaliano
salto con l'asticella
sal-toh kon la-steh-cheh-lah
JA日本語
ポールVault
po-ru bo-rotto
KO한국어
폴 Vault
pol bo-ul-to
MRMR
पोल व्हॉल्ट
pol vol-t
MSBahasa Melayu
lompat dengan tiang
lom-pat de-ngan ti-ang
MYမြန်မာ
ပိုင်လုပ်
pai-lu-ok
NLNederlands
polsstokhoogspringen
pol-stok-hoh-spring-en
NONorsk
stavsprang
stav-sprang
PLPolski
skok z kijem
skok z kee-em
PTPortuguês
salto com vara
sal-toh kom vah-rah
RORomână
salt în lungime cu băț
salt in lung-ee-meh ku batsh
RUРусский
прыжок с шестом
pr-yzh-ok s she-stom
SVSvenska
stavsprång
stav-shprong
SWKiswahili
ruka na mti
roo-ka na m-tee
TAதமிழ்
பாலில் ஏற
pa-lil e-ra
TEతెలుగు
పోల వాల్ట్
pola val-t
THไทย
กระโดดข้ามคาน
gra-dot kham kan
TLTL
talon sa poste
ta-lon sa pos-teh
TRTürkçe
sırıkla atlama
sir-i-klah at-lah-mah
UKУкраїнська
стрибок з жердиною
st-rybok z zher-di-no-oy
URاردو
پُل والٹ
pol wal-t
VITiếng Việt
nhảy qua cọc
nhay kwa cok
ZUZU
ukus'ekela
oo-koo-se-ke-la
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Pole vault was barred from women's Olympic competition until 2000, nearly a century after men's inclusion (1896). The event was considered 'unladylike' due misconceptions about injury risk and propriety, not safety science.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'pole-vault' neutrally for all athletes. Acknowledge when discussing history that exclusion was based on bias, not athletic evidence.
Empowerment Note
Stacy Dragila and other pioneers fought for women's pole vault Olympic recognition. Their performances have matched men's in technical sophistication and broken persistent barriers.