Pole Vault Stars
DateEarly February
LocationDonetsk, Ukraine Ukraine
Event typePole vault
Established1990

Pole Vault Stars was an annual indoor pole vaulting competition which was typically held in February at the Druzhba Palace of Sports in Donetsk, Ukraine.[1] The meeting was founded in 1990 by Sergey Bubka, the pole vault world record holder who grew up in the city.[2][3][4] Bubka brought an end to his distinguished career with a ceremony at the competition in 2001.[5]

History

The meeting traces its history back to 1990, when Bubka set a world indoor record mark of 6.05 m. He went on to set two further world indoor records at the meet, clearing 6.11 m at the second edition in 1991 and then setting a world indoor record of 6.15 m in 1993.[6] After standing for almost 21 years, in 2014 Renaud Lavillenie improved upon Bubka's record at Pole Vault Stars. Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva continued the event's record breaking traditions with two world record performances upon her first appearance in 2004.[7] She set a new world record at the meet every year from 2004 to 2009.[8][9] The Russian broke the women's indoor record twice at the 2009 meeting.[10]

Zepter International was a long-time title sponsor of the event. The meeting's current commercial partner, Samsung, has been the title sponsor since 2011.[11][12]

Days after the 2014 event, where Lavillenie set the new world record, the city of Donetsk became the epicenter of what became the War in Donbass. The continued situation has cancelled subsequent events. The 2015 event, moved from Donetsk to Kyiv, was cancelled at the last moment. Subsequently, in 2016 Lavillenie cooperated with Bubka to launch a new successor tournament to Pole Vault Stars called All Star Perche which takes place in France.

Past winners

The statue of founder Sergey Bubka which stands in the host city of Donetsk.

Key:   Meeting record

Year Men's winner Mark (m) Women's winner Mark (m)
1990  Sergey Bubka (UKR) 6.05
1991  Sergey Bubka (UKR) 6.11
1993  Sergey Bubka (UKR) 6.15
2004  Giuseppe Gibilisco (ITA) 5.82  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.83
2005  Derek Miles (USA) 5.85  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.87
2006  Paul Burgess (AUS) 5.80  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.91
2007  Paul Burgess (AUS) 5.80  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.93
2008  Maksym Mazuryk (UKR) 5.81  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.95
2009  Steve Hooker (AUS) 5.92  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 5.00
2010  Przemysław Czerwiński (POL) 5.82  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.85
2011  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.93  Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.85
2012  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.82  Jiřina Ptáčníková (CZE) 4.70
2013  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.85  Yarisley Silva (CUB) 4.76
2014  Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 6.16  Fabiana Murer (BRA) 4.62

References

  1. ^ Ramsak, Bob (2006-02-12). Isinbayeva 4.91 World Indoor record in Donestsk - Updated. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  2. ^ Biography Archived 2011-04-15 at the Wayback Machine. Sergey Bubka. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  3. ^ Ramsak, Bob (2005-02-11). Donetsk prepares annual welcome for high flying stars - PREVIEW. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  4. ^ POLE VAULT STARS; Bubka Can't Improve on Record. New York Times (1998-01-26). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  5. ^ Pole vault legend Sergei Bubka retires[dead link]. The Independent (2001-02-04). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  6. ^ Athletics: Much maligned mercenary who never fails to entertain. The Independent. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  7. ^ Isinbayeva sets new World record of 4.83m - updated report with full results and quotes. IAAF (2004-02-15). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  8. ^ Ramsak, Bob (2010-03-07). Isinbayeva clears 4.85m in Donetsk, Czerwinski improves to 5.82m. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  9. ^ Ramsak, Bob (2005-02-13). Isinbayeva is immediately up, up and away to a new season and a new World Indoor record!. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  10. ^ Isinbayeva debuts with 5.00m World indoor record in Donetsk! - UPDATED. IAAF (2009-02-15). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  11. ^ Zepter - Pole Vault Stars. All-Russia Athletics Federation (2010). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.
  12. ^ Isinbayeva and Lavillenie improve their World season leads in Donetsk. IAAF (2011-02-12). Retrieved on 2011-02-12.

External links

European Athletics Indoor Permit Meetings
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