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Women’s pole vault kicks off this week as we head down the back stretch of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, and we couldn’t be more excited. We’ve been huge fans of the sport for years, following such incredible vaulters like 2 time gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva and internet phenom Allison Stokke (contrary to popular belief, Stokke has never qualified or participated in an Olympic games). These women are just awesome to watch. They are fearless, ridiculously fit and impossibly graceful as they fly through the air in this incredibly dangerous sport.
The 2016 Summer Olympics are in full swing, and it’s now time for one of
Although men’s pole vault has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since the first Summer Games in 1896, women’s pole vault is a relative newcomer. Rio marks only the fifth Olympics to feature women’s pole vaulting. Since it’s inclusion in Sydney in 2000, the event has only been won by 2 countries, The United States and Russia. This year, with the controversy surrounding disqualified Russian vaulter Isinbayeva, the US is looking like a very strong contender to bring home the gold. Keep your eyes on returning gold medalist at the 2012 London Games Jenn Suhr, Sandi Morris and Arkansas student Lexi Weeks, as they aim to make America proud.
Qualification heats take place on Tuesday, August 16th at 8:45 am with the final on Friday, August 19th at 7:30 pm. To prepare you for the upcoming vault competition, we’ve put together an incredible collection of photos of the hottest women pole vaulters competing in Rio.
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Lexi Weeks
USA
Alexis Weeks, a.k.a Lexi Week is a 19 year-old first time Olympian attending her sophomore year at the University of Arkansas. She won the NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Lexi has an identical twin sister Tori, who is also a pole vaulter for Arkansas.
The 2016 Summer Olympics are rapidly approaching, so let’s take a few minutes to get
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Angelica Bengtsson
Sweden
Angelica Bengtsson is a Swedish pole vaulter representing Sweden in the 2016 Olympics. She broke the youth world record in 2010 and the world junior record with a vault of 4.63 meters. Her person outdoor best is 4.61 m.
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images for Athletics Australia)
Alana Boyd
Australia
Australia’s Alana Boyd is the daughter of two former Australian Olympians. Rio is the second Olympics for the 32 year-old vaulter. She finished 11th at the 2012 Games in London.
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Marina Kylypko
Ukraine
We don’t know much about Ukraine’s Maria Kylypko, except that she was born on November 10th, 1995, stands, 5’5″ and weighs in at 127lbs.
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Lisa Ryzih
Germany
Originally from Omsk, Soviet Union, the 27 year-old pole vaulter Lisa Ryzih has been winning championships since 2003. Rio is Ryzih’s 2nd Olympic games. She finished 6th at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Lisa’s personal best is 4.71 m. Her sister Nastia Ryikh a.k.a Anastasija Reibeger is also a champion pole vaulter.
Lisa Ryzih is the incredibly gorgeous German pole vaulter representing Germany at the 2016 Olympic
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Sandi Morris
USA
24 year-old Sandi Morris is the current American outdoor record holder in pole vault, breaking fellow USA teammate Jenn Suhr’s record with a 4.93 m vault in July and scored her personal best indoor vault of 4.95 m in March. Like Lexi Weeks, Sandi also attended the University of Arkansas. Go Razorbacks!
The Summer Olympics will be here before you know it, so let’s take a few
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Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou
Greece
30 year-old Greek vaulter Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou is no stranger to the Olympics. 2016 marks her 3rd appearance in the games. Although she Nikoleta has yet to finish strong, She has been vaulting well the past year, having won third in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. Her personal outdoor best is 4.83 m.
(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Ling Li
China
Ling Li is a 27 year-old pole vauter representing China in 2016 Rio Olympic Games. This is her 2nd Olympics. She finished 30th in the 2012 London Games. In 2016, Ling won the Asian Indoor Championships in Qatar with a personal best vault of 4.70 m.
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Sonia Malavisi
Italy
Sonia Malavisi is an Italian pole vaulter representing Italy at the 2016 Olympic Games. The 21 year-old began her athletic career in Artistic Gymnastics before switching to pole vaulting. Her personal best vault is 4.50 m.
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Eliza McCartney
New Zealand
Auckland native Eliza McCartney comes from a long line of athletes. Her mother was a gymnast and her father a high jumper. At 19, she is one of the youngest track and field competitors at the 2016 Games. She was a successful high jumper before making the switch to pole vaulting in 2011. Her outdoor personal best vault is 4.80 m.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Michaela Meijer
Sweden
23 year-old Swedish pole vaulter Michaela Meijer is making her Olympic debut in Rio. Her personal outdoor best is 4.55 m.
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Jenn Suhr
USA
Team USA’s Jenn Suhr is the current Olympic and World champion and the indoor world record holder at 5.03 m. Considered the favorite to win gold in Rio, Jenn’s status has become a little uncertain leading up to Tuesday’s qualifiers. Her coach / husband Rick Suhr announced on Facebook that Jenn has contracted a really “nasty virus”, but will compete despite respiratory complications. Here’s to strong qualification and hopefully some rest leading up to Friday’s final.
With the 2016 Summer Olympics right around the corner, we figured it would be a
(Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images for IAAF)
Angelica Moser
Switzerland
At only 18, the Rio Olympics are a first for Swiss pole vaulter Angelica Moser. Moser won gold at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and placed first at the 2015 European Junior Championships. Her personal best for outdoors is 4.41 m.
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Fabiana Murer
Brazil
Brazil native Fabiana Murer is certain to be a crowd favorite as she competes on her home turf at the Rio Olympics. Murer holds the South American record with an indoor best of 4.82 m. and outdoor best of 4.87 m. This is Fabiana’s third Olympics.
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Wilma Murto
Finland
18 year-old Wilma Murto is considered to be one of the most promising athletes in Finland. She made her international debut at the young age of 16. Murto’s personal best is 4.71 m.
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Anicka Newell
Canada
Despite being Texas native, Anicka Newell is competing under the Canadian flag in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She is eligible to compete for Canada due to her mother’s Canadian citizenship. We don’t know too much else “ABOOT’ Anika, except that she attends one of our favorite universities Texas State. Go Bobcats!
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Alysha Newman
Canada
University of Miami alumn Alysha Newman is the 2nd ‘Canadian’ competing in the pole vault for Canada. She currently holds the Canadian women’s record with a personal best of 4.61 m.
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Minna Nikkanen
Finland
Minna Nikkanen is the second Finnish vaulter to make our list. The 28 year-old Nikkanen finished 26th at the 2012 London Games. Her personal best is 4.60 m.
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Marta Onofre
Portugal
Pole vaulter Marta Onofre is the current Portuguese record holder with a personal best of 4.51 m. indoors.
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Robeilys Peinado
Venezuela
Robeilys Peinado is the third 18 year-old to make our list. She originally started competing as a gymnast, but switched to pole vaulting at 12 when she became too tall for the sport. She holds the national record for Venezuela with a personal best of 4.60 m.
(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Tori Pena
Ireland
California native and former UCLA Bruin Tori Pena is competing for Ireland at the 2016 Olympic games. She is eligible to compete for Ireland because her maternal grandmother was born in Derry. Pena’s personal best is 4.60 m.
(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Jirina Ptacnikova
Czech Republic
Czech pole vaulter Jirina Ptacnikova is the daughter of Czech sprinter Frantisek Ptacnik. Jirina finished 6th at the 2012 London Games and is holds the national record for the Czech Republic with a personal best of 4.76 m.
There’s been a lot of bad press about the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, but we think