American Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy made history at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest by deciding to share the women’s pole vault gold medal. This decision mirrored the iconic moment at the Tokyo Olympics, where Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi shared the high jump gold.
Both Moon and Kennedy cleared 4.90 meters in an intense final that lasted over two hours. However, they both failed to clear 4.95 meters in three attempts. Instead of going to a jump-off, they chose to share the victory. This act of sportsmanship and camaraderie showcased the true spirit of athletics.
Kennedy expressed her joy, saying, “I jumped out of my skin tonight. It was super crazy. It was surreal. I jumped 4.82 two or three years ago, so I knew I had some higher heights in me, and tonight I just placed them together.” She described winning the gold medal as a dream come true and emphasized that it felt like a miracle.
For Moon, it was her second consecutive world title, having also won Olympic gold in Tokyo. With a personal best of 4.95 and a season’s best of 4.90, she was considered the favorite. However, Kennedy had other plans. She surpassed the Australian record and her own personal best by clearing 4.90 meters, leaving her in tears of disbelief.
The two athletes chatted briefly after their unsuccessful attempts at 4.95 meters and decided to share the gold. Their heartwarming embrace symbolized the beauty of the sport. British Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill commented on their performance, saying, “I am a big softie. It is so beautiful; it really displays what our sport is about.”
Moon confessed that at the beginning of the night, she would not have considered sharing gold as a great outcome. However, after the battle they went through, she expressed complete satisfaction. She said, “When it became obvious that only Nina and I were still jumping, the show had just started. I think we both motivated each other. When she had a good attempt, I also wanted to have it.”
Wilma Murto of Finland secured the bronze medal by tying her season’s best of 4.80 meters. She missed all three attempts at 4.85 meters. Murto became the first Finnish woman to win a Diamond League title when she defeated Moon at the London event in July.
The women’s pole vault final was a thrilling event that captivated the crowd at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest. With the presence of top jumpers and record-breaking performances, the spectators were engaged and clapped along in rhythm with the athletes’ attempts.
Kennedy acknowledged the electric atmosphere, saying, “I felt like the whole stadium was watching every single jump. They were all around us tonight; it was really incredible.”
The remarkable display of sportsmanship and incredible performances by Moon and Kennedy will be remembered as one of the highlights of the World Athletics Championships. Their decision to share the gold medal not only showcased their talent but also demonstrated the true essence of sportsmanship and fair play.