Stacy Dragila

Stacy Dragila was the first great American female pole vaulter and won the gold medal in the first women’s Olympic pole vault, at Sydney in 2000. She was also World Champion in 1999 and 2001, and World Indoor Champion in 1997, and was the first World and World Indoor Champion in the event. Dragila won the US Outdoor Championships eight times, in 1997 and 1999-2005. In all, she competed at two Olympic Games, four World Championships (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005), and five World Indoor Championships (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003-04), although with less success after 2001. She was world ranked in the top 10 from 1997-2005, ranking #1 in 1999-2001.

Dragila was the first American woman to clear 15 feet (4.57 m) in the vault. Between 1997-2001 she set five outdoor world records and 13 world indoor records / bests. From 1996-2005 she set 22 American records in the pole vault, and 14 American bests indoors. She also set an early American best mark in the rarely contested women’s decathlon.

Dragila was originally a heptathlete at Idaho State University until she was encouraged to try the pole vault in 1994 by her coach, Dave Nielsen. Athletically she also participated in rodeo competitions as a goat roper and later founded the Dragila Vault Company. Dragila was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2014. Dragila Way, on the campus of Idaho State in Pocatello, is named in her honor.

Personal Best: PV – 4.83 (2004).