Pole vaulting is a spectacular, dangerous sport. Modern poles could be drastically improved to make them more reliable, with healable tech being developed that could also be used in surfing and cycling.
I’m surprised they aren’t single-use with that tight balance of conflicting properties, especially on Olympics. And, ehm, with all safety precautions it looks a little like greenwashing these poles after talking oneself into the corner what no producer of equipment would ever do, honest.
With how interesting this sport looks, may there be an option to retire fiberglass for something not bending on the world level? It wouldn’t allow these funny trebuchet yanks and is more boring to watch but the level of mastery of pulling oneself with a sturdy pole seems not far off.
I’m surprised they aren’t single-use with that tight balance of conflicting properties, especially on Olympics. And, ehm, with all safety precautions it looks a little like greenwashing these poles after talking oneself into the corner what no producer of equipment would ever do, honest.
With how interesting this sport looks, may there be an option to retire fiberglass for something not bending on the world level? It wouldn’t allow these funny trebuchet yanks and is more boring to watch but the level of mastery of pulling oneself with a sturdy pole seems not far off.