Maksim Tarasov

Maksim Tarasov was considered the world’s second best pole vaulter in the 1990s, behind legendary Sergey Bubka. After winning a silver medal at the 1988 World Junior Championships and gold medal at the 1989 European Junior Championships, Tarasov débuted in the senior ranks at the 1991 World Championships, where he won bronze. At the 1992 Olympic Games, Bubka could not clear his opening height in the final, which allowed Tarasov to win Olympic gold. Four years later, Tarasov did not clear his opening height at the Russian championships, which also doubled as Olympic trials, and was not selected for the Russian Olympic team. In 2000, he returned to the Olympics, winning a bronze medal. His World Championships record included a 1999 gold, silvers in 1995 and 1997, and bronzes in 1991 and 1993. He was the 1998 European Champion, and won the 1998 World Cup, 1997 European Cup, and the 1996 and 1998-99 Grand Prix Finals. Tarasov won the CIS title in 1992.

Personal Best: PV – 6.05 (1999).