Men Pole Vault Final
Despite three hours in the sweltering heat, the men’s pole vaulters still managed to come up with some respectable results.
In the end, It was Russia’s Artem Kuptsov who took the gold on countback, with both he and France’s Vincent Favretto clearing 5.15.
Until the winning height, Kuptsov had managed a completely clear series, electing to start competition at 4.80 before making his next attempt at 5.00 metres, then 5.10. He fouled on his first attempt at 5.15 and then made a successful clearance.
Following a similar strategy, Favretto started his competition at 4.75 metres, passing up to 4.90, then 5.00 metres before failing his first attempt at 5.10m. With a successful clearance at this height at his second attempt the young Frenchman followed Kuptsov to 4.15 also clearing this height at his second attempt. Both athletes then made three unsuccessful attempts at 5.20, with Favretto’s two earlier failures to his one giving Kuptsov the gold. Bronze went to Go Kishita of Japan with a personal best of 5.00 metres.
Unsurprisingly, Kputsov said afterwards that he would have like to have cleared all the heights at the first attempt. "But I was confident that I will be victorious. I like the stadium a lot and I would like to compete here again in the future."
