Pole Vault, Men

The top vaulter in 2004 was Jeff Hartwig, who had cleared 6.03 (19-9½) but he did not make the US team. Favored once again was Sergey Bubka (UKR), the greatest vaulter ever, but one who had known almost nothing but misery at the Olympics. In 1984, he could not compete because of the boycott. From 1988-2000 he was the favorite but won only in 1988. In 1992, he did not make a height in the final. In 1996 he withdrew from the qualifying with an Achilles’ injury. In Sydney, he opened at 5.70 (18-8¼) in the qualifying but did not clear that height and was out. His Olympic career as a competitor was over, although in 1999 he had been elected as a member of the IOC. There were eight vaulters left at 5.90 (19-4¼), all having cleared 5.80 (19-0¼). Only four were successful at 5.90 – Nick Hysong (USA) on his first attempt, Lawrence Johnson (USA) on his second attempt, and Maksim Tarasov (1992 gold medalist) (RUS) and Michael Stolle (GER) on their third attempts. Nobody could do any better and that settled the medals – Hysong gold, Johnson silver, and Tarasov getting bronze based on fewer total misses.