Pole Vault is a field event in the sport Track & Field in which an athlete uses a long, flexible pole (which today is usually made of either fibreglass or carbon fiber)as an aid to leap over a pre determined bar set at varying heights. It has been a full medal event at the Olympic games since 1896 for men and 2000 for women.

Over the course of history, poles have evolved from a varity of materials such as solid ash, bamboo, tubular aluminium, fibreglass and most recently carbon-fiber.

The vaulting process begins when the athlete accelerates down the runway with the pole, gradually lowering it until he or she reaches the planting box. As the pole is "planted" horizontal energy is converted into vertical energy by the pole and the athlete is propelled up and over the bar.