The Pole Vault has been one of Germany’s most successful disciplines for years. It will probably remain as it was at least in near future, although German pole vaulting has lost one of its strongest athletes: 32 year-old Michael Stolle announced that he has retired from the sport. He had been a world class athlete for one decade though he was hampered by injuries in recent years.
At the Olympics Michael Stolle had placed ninth in 1996 and fourth in 2000. He then placed fourth again a year later at the World Championships in Edmonton. While he won the Pole Vault at the European Cup twice in 1999 and 2001, he also got two international indoor medals. In 2003, he was second at the World Indoors in Birmingham, only beaten by fellow German Tim Lobinger. Five years earlier he had claimed a silver at the European Indoors which saw again Lobinger won gold while Danny Ecker took the bronze.
Michael Stolle has a personal best of 5.95 m from 2000. He said that he intends to work as a media person of the German army.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
