It's all about clearing a crossbar with the use of a pole with speed and a smooth technique the key to success.

You power down the runway and plant a pole into the special box at the front of the landing pad and hopefully get over the bar without knocking it to the ground.

Stacy Dragila (USA) Born 25.3.71
Russian Yelena Isinbayeva is the current superstar, but it wasn't so long ago when Dragila was the vaulting queen.

The American originally ran the hurdles but after a stint at training for the heptathlon, she was encouraged to try the pole vault and dominated for several years.

As well as her Olympic crown in 2000, she has won almost every major championship, including the 1997 indoor Worlds in Paris and the 1999 outdoor Worlds in Seville.

Sergey Bubka (UKR) Born 4.12.63

Super Surgey

He won the 1983 World Championships as an unknown 19-year-old.

Bubka then went on to completely dominate the pole vault for the next five years.

Although his only Olympic gold came in Seoul in 1988, he went on to be World champion an incredible five times.

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World record

Men: 6.14m Sergey Bubka (UKR) 31.7.94 Women: 4.92m Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 3.9.2004