Pole Vault, Women

A big field of 15 vaulters started the final on 5 August, with most of the favorites present. The large field was due to heavy rain in qualifying as the officials elected to expand the final to 15, rather than 12, and stop the qualifying early. There was the defending gold medalist, Greece’s Ekaterini Stefanidi, Russian Olympic Committee athlete Anzhelika Sidorova, who had won the 2019 World Championship, Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, and American Katie Nageotte. Another American, Sandi Morris, the silver medalist from Rio, did not get past qualifying.

Jumping in the final started at 4.50, with 13 clearing, although Nageotte needed three attempts, but it narrowed down quickly, as only four vaulters succeeded at the next height, 4.70 – Nageotte, Bradshaw, Sidorova, and Stefanidi. Only Sidorova cleared on the first attempt and led, with Bradshaw second, Nageotte third, and Stefanidi in fourth.

At 4.80, all four jumpers remained in the competition, with Nageotte and Sidorova having first attempt success. Moving to 4.85, Nageotte, Sidorova, and Bradshaw went over on the first try, while Stefanidi missed her first attempt and passed to 4.90. At that height Nageotte went over on her second attempt and was the only successful vaulter, which would bring her the gold medal. Sidorova missed twice and then passed to 4.95, but a failure at that height left her with the silver medal, as Bradshaw finished third, and Stefanidi was off the podium in fourth.