Sports
The Mechanics of Pole Vaulting
Quick fact
The men's world record is 6.23 m (20 ft 5 in), and vaulters use poles that bend nearly 90° and store as much elastic energy as a drawn crossbow.
Why this is interesting
You’ve seen a pole vaulter soar over a bar higher than a basketball hoop. How does a flexible pole turn a short sprint into a breathtaking leap?