Who holds the pole vault world record for women? Find out here!

Who holds the pole vault world record for women? Find out here!

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:26 PM

Throughout history, female athletes have dominated the pole vaulting global charts. Who holds the current women's pole vault world record? Learn more about the history of female trailblazers in the sport and the athlete who holds the pole vault world record for women.

What is the highest female pole vault record?
Ling Li competes during one of the 2016 Rio Olympics qualifying rounds at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August 2016. Photo by Ian Walton.
Source: Getty Images

What is the Olympic record for the women's pole vault? Although the men's record beats the women's record by one metre, there is no doubt that achieving a 5.06 metre jump is remarkable. This article will highlight the achievements of the current Olympic record holder for pole jumping, Yelena Isinbayeva, and other athletes.

Top 10 women's pole vault world records

Pole vaulting or jumping is one of the earliest sporting activities in history. Although it began in 1896, women's involvement in the sport on the Olympic stage started just before the turn of the century.

10. Elmarie Gerryts

Gerryts is undoubtedly among the best South African track and field athletes in pole vault events. The six-time national champion holds two standing African records in indoor and outdoor events.

Who is the best female pole vaulter in the world?
Elmarie Gerryts in action at the ABSA Athletics Series in January 2001, held in Rustenburg, South Africa. Photo by Allsport UK.
Source: Getty Images

9. Lisa Gunnarsson

The Swedish pole vaulter set several personal bests, including two World Youth Championship records. Between 2021 and 2022, she cleared 4.56m and 4.65 m in indoor and outdoor events.

8. Olivia McTaggart

As of February 2023, Olivia McTaggart currently holds tenth in the global rankings with a 1,244 score. The New Zealand Olympic team member set two personal bests in 2022 when she cleared a 4.65 metre outdoor jump and a 4.60 metre indoor jump.

The NCAA women's pole vault record
Olivia McTaggart competes during the women's final event of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium in August 2022, in Birmingham, England. Photo by Michael Steele.
Source: Getty Images

7. Bridget Guy

At the time of writing, the 2019 World University Games Bronze medalist holds the ninth position in the global rankings with a 1273 score. Her highest bests came in 2023 after clearing 4.77 metres at an indoor event at the Track in Boston, USA.

6. Wilma Murto

Who is the 2022 European pole vault champion? Murto set a new European and Finnish national record at the European Athletics Championships in Munich after clearing a 4.85 jump.

5. Li Ling

Ling set an Asian pole vault record after clearing a 4.70 metre jump during the 2016 Doha Asian Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar. In 2019, she improved her personal best with a 4.72 metre jump at the IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, China.

4. Sandi Morris

Sandi distinguished herself in the sport by setting several women's indoor pole vault world records. As of February 2023, the two-time global indoor champion holds the first position in the World Athletics women's rankings with 1432 points. She holds the US women's record, which stands at 5.00 metres.

3. Nina Kennedy

In addition to holding a Commonwealth Games winner title, Nina Kennedy is the reigning Australian women's pole vault champion. Although she could have improved her 4.82 metre 2021 personal best, Kennedy set the record with a 4.81 metre during the 2022 Diamond League meeting in Zurich.

2. Svetlana Feofanova

Svetlana has held multiple global and European titles in indoor and outdoor events as one of the greatest pole vault athletes. With 13 records, the Russian athlete dominated the track and field stage between 2003 and 2004 alongside athletic greats such as Yelena Svetlana and Stacy Dragila.

1. Stacy Dragila

Stacy Dragila is one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time who held various titles, including nine national outdoor champion titles and the 2000 Olympic gold medal. The American National Track and Field Hall of Famer's record streak peaked in 2003 when she cleared a 4.78 metre indoor jump.

Who won the first women's pole vault?
Stacy Dragila vaults to victory for the sixth year at the 98th Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February 2005. Photo by Kirby Lee/WireImage.
Source: Getty Images

Women's indoor pole vault world records in 2023

What is the indoor world record for the pole vault? In 2016, American pole jumper Jennifer Suhr broke her previous record by adding a centimetre.

Suhr cleared the current record, 5.03m, during the 2016 Brockport Golden Eagle Multi and Invitational in New York state. Here is a summary of the standing women's pole vault world records in feet for senior and Under-20 events.

Athlete

Nationality

Competition

Date

Venue

Record

Jennifer Suhr

USA

World Records

2nd March 2013

Germany

16' 5.7"

Sandi Morris

USA

World Indoor Championships

3rd March 2016

Britain

16' 2.8"

Wilma Murto

Finland

World Under-20

31st January 2016

Germany

15' 5.4"

Amanda Moll

USA

World Under-20 Leading 2023

13th January 2023

USA

15' 1.4"

Women's indoor pole vault world records in 2023

What is the current world record for the women's pole vault? Retired Olympian Yelena Isinbayeva, who is known as the pole vault queen, cleared 5.06m setting the world record in 2009. Scroll down for more women's pole vault world record holders in 2023.

The highest women's pole vault record
Yelena Isinbayeva competes in the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in August 2012 in London, England. Photo by Michael Steele.
Source: Getty Images

Athlete

Nationality

Competition

Date

Venue

Record

Yelena Isinbayeva

Russia

World Records

28th August 2009

Zurich

18' 4.4"

Yelena Isinbayeva

Russia

World Athletics Championships

12th August 2005

Finland

16' 5.2"

Polina Knoroz

Neutral Athlete

World Leading 2023

21st January 2023

Russia

15' 1.4"

Yelena Isinbayeva

Russia

Olympic Games

18 August 2008

China

16' 6.8"

Wilma Murto

Finland

World Under-20 Leading 2023

31st January 2016

Germany

15' 5.4"

Angelica Moser

Switzerland

World Under-20 Championships

21st July 2016

Poland

14' 11.1"

Jathiyah Muhammad

USA

World Under-20 Leading 2023

18th February 2023

USA

12' 9.5"

Ellie Parsons

Australia

World Under-20 Leading 2023

20th January 2023

Australia

12' 9.5"

Amanda Moll

USA

World Under-18 Best Performances

25th March 2022

USA

14' 9.5"

Vicky Parnov

Switzerland

World Under-18 Championships

14th July 2007

Czech Republic

14' 3.2"

Angelica Moser

USA

Youth Olympic Games

23rd August 2014

China

14' 3.6"

The complete list of pole vault world records for women consists of many more trailblazers who have paved the way for future athletes. However, the top 10 record holders' achievements and influence on the growth and development of the sport must be considered.

READ ALSO: Ranking the 15 best pole vaulters in the world right now

Sports Brief recently published an article ranking the world's best track and field stars who have dominated pole jumping competitions over the years. The report covers male and female athletes who have made a mark in indoor and outdoor sports events.

Click on the link above to learn more about the greatest pole vaulters ever.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.