Bonnin hits the heights to claim world indoor pole vault crown in Nanjing

Marie-Julie Bonnin soared into the spotlight at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25, clearing 4.75m to equal the French pole vault record and gain her first global gold on Saturday (22).

After claiming bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn earlier in the month, the 23-year-old went two places better to take the title in China, winning ahead of her fellow European indoor medallists Tina Sutej of Slovenia, who got silver in Apeldoorn, and Angelica Moser of Switzerland, who got gold in the continental competition.

Despite a break in competition due to a technical issue, Bonnin managed to maintain her composure. After entering the competition at 4.45m and clearing that first time, the Olympic finalist needed three attempts at 4.60m. She then managed 4.70m on her first try, soaring over a bar just a single centimetre lower than the PB she set in Roubaix in February.

Once the technical issue was resolved, the bar moved to 4.75m and her clearance of that height on her second attempt would eventually secure her the title. Expressing her delight as she fell back down to the mat, she put her hands to her face as she celebrated equalling a national record set by Ninon Chapelle in Monaco in 2018.

She went on to have three attempts at 4.80m.

“I cannot believe it. It's like a dream,” said Bonnin, who is coached by former athlete Damiel Dossevi. After joining him in 2022 she became the European U23 champion in 2023 and made the Olympic final on home soil in Paris.

“I feel like we were there for a medal, but not the gold. There were many good girls here who I expected to be in great shape. 

“We weren't sure that we were going to jump here two months ago. We didn't expect it to go this well, but we tried, and I'm so proud that we made the right choice. The medal (at the European Indoor Championships) was so relieving. I came here knowing nobody will be upset if I don't do something good. But it was so relieving.”

Bonnin was one of eight athletes still in the competition at 4.70m. Like the French champion, 2022 world indoor bronze medallist Sutej and European champion Moser cleared that height at the first time of asking, while Great Britain’s defending champion Molly Caudery needed two tries to make it over. That would turn out to be the difference between fourth place and a medal, as she finished just off the podium on countback when she was unable to make it over 4.75m.

Sutej now has two world indoor medals on her CV, while Moser gained her first after two fourth-place finishes in 2022 and 2024.

USA’s Gabriela Leon and Czechia’s Amalie Svabikova finished joint fifth, and the Italian pair of Elisa Molinarolo and Roberta Bruni were joint seventh on countback as they all cleared a best of 4.60m.

Jess Whittington for World Athletics