The general and historical background to pole vaulting is discussed and the energy lost at impact is assessed. A description of the different actions of rigid and flexible pole vaulters is given and measurements of the flexural rigidity of typical aluminium and fibre glass vaulting poles are reported. The path of the hand hold and the hip of a vaulter have been followed and plotted using a camera and compared with previous conjectures. An estimate of the compressive force in the pole is made.
A discussion of the factors which make for the height cleared by a vaulter is given.
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