Without Yelena Isinbayeva due to the Russian ban and without home favorite Fabiana Murer who lost in the qualifying, the women's pole vault final has every aspect to be a cracker. The twelve pole vaulters that will compete for the medals are Ekaterini Stefanidi, Holly Bradshaw, Tina Sutej, Lisa Ryzih, Sandi Morris, Kelsie Ahbe, Jennifer Shur, Martina Strutz, Yarisley Silva, Eliza Mccartney, Alana Boyd and Nicole Buchler.
The favorites
In an Olympics final there are no favorites, but considering the results, Yarisley Silva is the name that everyone expects to stand on the highest step of the podium. The World Champion in Beijing and the silver medalist in London is coming to Rio as the second best athlete of the year but definitely the one that matches the combination of experience and form the best. Starting with her year, she stands second in the diamond race with 30 points and she has won only the meeting in Birmingham, where she flew to 4.83 setting a new diamond league record.
However, despite being clearly the second best player of the year so far, experience will be a huge key. Silva is one of the athletes that has proved her ability to do well in big finals, having won the silver medal in London and the gold in the World Championships last year. Her mental toughness in her key and in an event like the Olympics she would be more than just eager to carry the Cuban flag in the highest place of the stadium.
Another huge name is the American Jennifer Shur. Shur is the epitome of experience entering this final. Aged 34, the defending gold medalist and silver medalist in Beijing, has not been at her best lately. Nevertheless, she still seems to be in a good shape, as she won the Indoor World Championships in Portland, despite failing to succeed in the Diamond League meetings. Also, Shur has proved she will be ready for the big meetings and a short season helps her considering her age. She has jumped the enormous 4.90 to win the Indoor World Championships and if she can replicate the form of the last big meeting she can really have a shot at the podium.
The third big favorite comes from Greece and is the 26-year-old Ekaterini Stefanidi. Stefanidi has definitely been the most consistent athlete this year, winning four diamond league meetings (and leading the race), the gold in the European Championships and the bronze in the world indoor championships. It has been a big year for the Greek. What Stefanidi lacks is experience and medals outside Europe. The 26-year-old has three medals in European Championships, but only one in world champs and these would be her second Olympics after being 24th in London. Stefanidi has the heights near 4.80 but she is a big question mark if the bar goes at 4.90 or higher, as she has only a 4.86 outdoors and a 4.90 indoors, which are the Greek national records and have not come in important finals.
The rest of the field
Behind the favorites, the rest of the field is pretty interesting filled with many experienced athletes as well as with many young guns. Starting with the ones that lack any big performance before, Tina Sutej from Slovenia and Kelsie Ahbe are the big surprises as they have never won a medal in a big meeting before and they are lacking Diamond League success, but of course, in an Olympic final everyone comes to outdo themselves. Eliza McCartney from New Zealand will be a name to keep in mind, as she is only 19 and she is in the final, while her fellow from Oceania, Alana Boyd, is not a big name but she has topped two times the commonwealth games. The 19-year-old McCartney has six diamond race points this year as well so she is one of the new talents coming up.
There are some other athletes who have experience and some good performances in the past, but still, their current form is a mystery. First of all, we have Martina Strutz, silver medalist in 2011 World and 2012 European Championships and 5th in London. Strutz was one of the big names in London, but currently, her legacy has started to fall. Only experience can lead her to a medal. On the other side, there is Lisa Ryzih, who is having a decent year, winning the silver medal in the European Champs in Amsterdam as well as having two points in the diamond race. She is a good athlete, but mainly on the European level. Bradshaw will be the one carrying Great Britain's hopes in women's pole vault. She has medaled in big meetings, most significantly the Indoor World Championships in 2012 and the Indoor European Championships in 2013, but as you read all are indoors.
Two of the best in the Diamond League race this year are Nichole Buchler and Sandi Morris. Buchler is standing third in the Diamond Race and she has been on a consistent level all year. Consistency though is not going to help her get to the podium as she lacks achievements in big events and she has not been trustable as the vault goes higher, having only 4.80 from the World Indoor Championships in Portland. From the other side, Morris is a far more interesting case. She beat Stefanidi two times this year, as she won the silver medal in Portland and the first Diamond League meeting in Doha. She was also fourth last year in Beijing. Morris is probably the one who is the closest to upsetting the favorites and get to the podium.
Podium Predictions
As aforementioned, Silva is the big favorite for gold as she is in a good shape and has the big jumps under her belt. Despite seeing the back of Stefanidi in the last two Diamond League meetings, the Olympics are totally different and the Cuban has the experience and the mental strength to get to the top in the most important sporting event. Silva will be hungry for gold, especially since she fell to Shur in London. We should never forget the Olympic gold medalist in London. Shur will be here, ready to compete, as she has been in the big meetings lately. The American is better when she competes indoors, she has the world record as well, but she is expected to be ready for the big event, as she was in 2008 and 2012. Experience can really lead her far, but not threaten Silva that much. Turning to Stefanidi now, she has not any important achievements in World Championships and Olympics. She has been impressive the past months, but still, she lacks heights over 4.81 and 4.82 which may be needed for a medal.
She may have beaten all her competitors this year, but once again, Diamond League is really different than the Olympics or even the World Championships. Also, the absence of the other big Greek pole vaulter, Nikol Kyriakopoulou, puts all the pressure on her shoulders to bring a medal to her country, while Morris, a really dangerous contender for a medal is behind Shur's back and an underdog that has not much pressure to win a medal here. It all depends on how Stefanidi will perform in her first Olympic final as one of the medal contenders and on how she will handle the situation. She has the talent to get to the podium, but pole vault is one of the most mental track and field events so pressure and lack of experience will have a huge impact on each athlete.
Gold:Yarisley Silva (Cuba)
Silver:Jennifer Shur (USA)
Bronze:Sandie Morris (USA)