Women’s pole vault
With 24 confirmed entries, the women’s pole vault was always going to be a test of endurance as well as vaulting ability. With a starting time of 8:30 a.m. it took an hour to eliminate the first vaulter from the competition and by the time the bar had been raised to 4.20m, 18 athletes had successfully cleared and three others – including Emma George and Nicole Rieger-Humbert – had passed. But perhaps because of the early start, the competition was anti-climatic, victory going to the 21 year-old German Nastja Ryshich. She was the only athlete to clear 4.50. Emma George retired with an injury after clearing 4.35 – the final height achieved also by other pre-event favourites Nicole Rieger-Humbert, Zsuzsa Szabo, Melissa Mueller and Stacy Dragila.
There had been eight vaulters left in competition when bar was raised to 4.45 and Iceland’s Vala Flosadottir looked like she had the gold medal in the bag when she cleared with her first attempt for a new national record and personal best. But although seven of her rivals faltered ... Ryshich went over on her second attempt and held her nerve on her third attempt at the winning height.
Flash quotes
- Ryshich
It is not a surprise for me to have jumped 4.50 ... but I was not sure if it would
have been enough for the first place.
- Rieger-Humbert
I am happy to have a bronze medal but I am disappointed to have only managed 4.45
after my performances of recent weeks.
