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Sport of the Gods
“If man was meant to fly, God would have given him wings. No God did not give man or WOMAN wings, He gave THEM pole vault.” So the saying goes. I do not know if you have ever had the opportunity of watching Pole vault? If so you will know that pole vault, one of the only sports that allows the athlete to defy gravity, leaves its spectators in amazement as they get to see an athlete actually fly (even if it is only for a few seconds). Pole vault is an athletic competition in which the competitors use a flexible carbon-fiber and fiberglass pole to lift themselves over a bar. The competitor who achieves the highest height without knocking the bar off is the winner. During the vault the athletes run at a metal box where the pole is planted into. The pole then bends and shoots the athlete over the bar. When the athlete reaches his or her peak of height he or she lets go of the pole and land on their back on a foam padded mat (the pits). This is pole vault today; however it has changed and evolved into this over many years.
No one knows for sure where the pole vault originated from exactly, but the ancient Greeks and the Cretans were said to have started the idea. They would use long poles to vault over bulls. Egyptian relief sculptures from approximately 2500 B.C. depict warriors using poles to surmount enemy walls. In 1001 AD the Japanese used pole vaulting in the same way when they invaded China. It was the only way to get over the Great Wall of China. They also used it to cross canals to cross without getting wet. In Europe men used the pole to cross canals filled with water. The goal of this type of vaulting was distance rather than height. The first known pole vault competitions were held during the Irish Tailteann Games, which date back as far as 1829 B.C. Pole vault only became a vertical jump during gymnastics competitions in Germany around 1775. In the late 1800s, colleges started competing in the pole vault. Athletes would climb the pole as they jumped. In 1889, the Americans banned the movement of the hands along the pole.
At first poles were made of bamboo with shard points at the bottom, so they could plant them into the grass to jump. They competed on grass, planting the point in the grass (because holes were not allowed back then). Bamboo was the pole of choice for its strength and lightness. The first poles ever, were likely large sticks or tree limbs. Competitors in the 19th Century used wooden poles. Bamboo was only employed before World War II, when it was replaced by metal like aluminum and steel. The metal poles were used because bamboo was in short supplies and metal was lighter. Next came the fiberglass poles. They were lighter and allowed athletes to clear new heights. Finally poles like the ones used today are made of a mixture of carbon and fiberglass. These carbon fiber poles are the best choice because they allow athletes a safe bend and are strong and flexible. Not only did the poles change but also what the vaultors landed on. At first alters would vault on grass and land on the grass, however this was very dangerous so they started to use piles of sawdust and sand. When pole vaulters started to clear higher heights it was once again becoming unsafe to land on. At one point they had landing mattresses. Eventually plastic and foam replaced these pits. They were safer and took less to maintain.
The pole vault is a very technical event. There are many moves and rhythms that have to be in place to vault well. At first, as stated before, vaulters would climb their pole while vaulting. When that was banned in 1889 the technique of reversing the legs upwards, clearing the crossbar with stomach facing down was invented. This method is still used today. However it is somewhat modified. For example when the athlete goes up he or she is in a jackknife position which gives them a better position for inverting themselves upward. Another technique that changed was the approach run. Athletes used to just try to jam their pole into the box at the last moment; however it has been proven that by a three step drop of the pole is the most effective. Today there are six steps to a good vault. The approach run, the plant and take-off, the swing, the extension, the turn and the fly-away.
In conclusion, pole vault, one of the only sports that allows the athlete to defy gravity, leaves its spectators in amazement as they get to see an athlete actually fly (even if it is only for a few seconds). In today’s world of technology and new equipment the pole vault has evolved into an inspiring and astonishing sport. Who knows, maybe in a few years athletes will be able to clear thirty feet instead of twenty. Pole vault plus man power could equal unbelievable results. Pole vault is the sport of the Gods.
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