Katie Moon, Nina Kennedy share world championship pole vault title after thrilling battle
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Joint gold medallists Nina Kennedy of Australia and Katie Moon of the US celebrating with Finland's bronze medal winner Wilma Murto.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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BUDAPEST – The United States’ Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy decided to share the women’s pole vault gold in another magical moment at the World Athletics Championships on Wednesday.
Their decision had echoes of Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi sharing the high jump gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
The two women cleared 4.90m in a dramatic final that stretched 2hr 10min, but both missed on all three attempts at 4.95m and decided to share the victory rather than go to a jump-off. Wilma Murto of Finland tied her season’s best of 4.80m for bronze.
“I jumped out of my skin tonight. It was super crazy. I cannot explain it. It was surreal. I jumped 4.82 two or three years ago, so I knew I had some higher heights in me and tonight I just placed them together,” Kennedy, 26, said.
“To win a gold medal, it is just a dream come true – I knew I could get on the podium, but it was a miracle to get the gold. So a miracle happened tonight.”
It was the second consecutive world title for Moon, who also won Olympic gold in Tokyo. Armed with a personal best of 4.95m and a season’s best of 4.90m, the 32-year-old Moon appeared to be the favourite.
But Kennedy had other ideas. She surpassed the Australian record and her own personal best by 8cm when she sailed over 4.90m, and then held back tears as she looked up at the steady bar in joyful disbelief.
Moon and Kennedy chatted briefly after their three misses to decide the outcome, then embraced.
“I am a big softie, it is so beautiful, it really displays what our sport is about. Two epic performances and they’ve both come away with that gold medal,” Britain’s 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill said on the BBC.
Moon said that when the night began she would not have considered sharing gold as a great outcome. “But now I am completely satisfied. What a battle it was,” the American said.
“When it became obvious that only Nina and I were still jumping, the show had just started. We both motivated each other. When she had a good attempt, I also wanted to have it.
“It was tiring but worth the effort. What an amazing night. I hope everyone enjoyed that one. We did.” REUTERS
