POLE VAULT

WHAT IS POLE VAULT?

Pole vaulting, also known as pole jumping, is a track and field event in which an athlete uses a long and flexible pole, usually made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, as an aid to jump over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, Cretans and Celts. It has been a full medal event at the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 2000 for women. In competition, each vaulter is given three chances to clear a specified height. A bar rests on two uprights so that it will fall easily if touched. It is raised progressively until a winner emerges by process of elimination. Ties are broken by a “count back” based on fewest failures at the final height, fewest failures in the whole contest, or fewest attempts throughout the contest. The pole may be of any material: bamboo poles, introduced in 1904, quickly became more popular than heavier wooden poles; glass fiber became the most effective and popular by the early 1960s. The poles may be of any length or diameter.

HISTORY

Poles were used as a practical means of passing over natural obstacles in marshy places such as the province of Friesland in the Netherlands, along the North Sea, and the great level of the Fens in England across Cambridge shire, Huntingdonshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Artificial draining of these marshes created a network of open drains or canals intersecting each other. To cross these without getting soaked, while avoiding tedious roundabout journeys over bridges, a stack of jumping poles was kept at every house and used for vaulting over the canals. A slideway, or box, is sunk into the ground with its back placed directly below the crossbar (see illustration). The vaulter thrusts the pole into this box upon leaving the ground. A pit at least 5 meters (16.4 feet) square and filled with soft, cushioning material is provided behind the crossbar for the landing. Requirements of the athlete include a high degree of coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic ability. The modern vaulter makes a run of 40 meters (131.2 feet) while carrying the pole and approaches the takeoff with great speed. As the stride before the spring is completed, the vaulter performs the shift, which consists in advancing the pole toward the slideway and at the same time allowing the lower hand to slip up the pole until it reaches the upper hand, then raising both hands as high above the head as possible before leaving the ground. The vaulter is thus able to exert the full pulling power of both arms to raise the body and help swing up the legs. 스포츠토토