Vaulter pole snaps. Pole vaulter’s pole snaps during jump at world champs. Every time I watch the pole vault, I marvel at how much the thin, 15-foot poles are able to bend in order to withstand the weight of the athlete being propelled high into the air. The process of making the approach, placing the pole in the small plant, propelling into the air, having the pole bend just enough to get an athlete over the bar and falling safely to the pit is one of the more remarkable scenes in sports.


Unfortunately for Dmitry Starodubtsev, it doesn't always work out that way.