The pole vault is a field event in the sport of track and field. The sport dates back to ancient warfare when fighters would use poles to clear enemy walls. This original use of the sport was a very masculine one. It is also a sport that requires great upper body strength, which is more predominant in men than women. These factors limited the participation of females in the sport until the latter half of the 20th century.
Equipment
One difference between girls and boys pole vault is the size and stiffness of the pole. The pole must absorb the vaulter's energy and then return that energy back to the vaulter to propel him up and over the crossbar. This exchange of energy occurs when the pole bends and then straightens out during the vault. Bigger, stronger athletes will apply more force to the pole and as such need a bigger, stiffer pole to withstand and return that force. Generally males have greater size and strength than females and thus will use bigger, stiffer poles.
Inclusion
Men have been participating in the act of pole vault for thousands of years, with depictions of the event dating to 2500 BC. Only males participated in the sport when competitions began about 1829 BC. Pole vault as a sport for men was included at the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. The IAAF, track and field's governing body, began recognizing world records in women's pole vault in 1992, but the event was not included at the Olympics until 2000. Males also have the pole vault as one of 10 events in the decathlon, while women do not have the pole vault as one of the seven events of the heptathlon.
Performance
The performance achieved in the pole vault event is different for males and females. This is due in large part to the difference in size and strength between the sexes. A study published in 2004 in the Journal of Sport Science stated that males' initial energy, energy at maximum pole bend and final energy were all significantly higher than those found in females during the 2000 Olympics. This higher energy results in the ability to clear higher distances. At the time of publication, the world record for men was 6.14m while the women's mark stood at 5.06m.
Technique
One area of the sport that does not differ between the sexes is technique. Pole vault is one of the most challenging disciplines when it comes to the number of precise movements that must be mastered by its competitors. The pole vault is typically broken down into six phases: the approach and carry, plant, takeoff, swing, rock back, and the pull, turn and push. These phases are sometimes given different names, but each part of this complex technique is used by both males and females.
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