Katie Moon wins third straight World Pole Vault Title in Tokyo
Katie Moon cemented her dominance in women’s pole vault by winning her third consecutive world championship title on Wednesday night at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, pulling off a dramatic season’s best clearance of 4.90m on her final attempt.
The defending champion looked under pressure throughout a tense duel with fellow American Sandi Morris, who matched her jump-for-jump through the early stages. With the bar set at 4.90m, Moon faced the prospect of relinquishing her crown after two failed attempts. But the 33-year-old showed trademark composure, soaring over the height on her third and final effort to ignite the Tokyo crowd.
That clearance proved decisive. Morris, chasing her elusive first world title, gambled by raising the bar to 4.95m. Needing to clear it in a single attempt to keep her hopes alive, she came up short, handing Moon the gold.
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Morris settles for silver again
For Morris, it was a familiar outcome. The 32-year-old claimed her fourth World Championships silver medal, following runner-up finishes in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Despite another near-miss, her consistency on the world stage has made her one of the most decorated pole vaulters of her generation.
Sutej secures bronze for Slovenia
The bronze medal went to Tina Šutej of Slovenia, who cleared 4.80m to secure her spot on the podium. It was a breakthrough moment for the 36-year-old veteran, who had previously finished just outside the medals in global competition.
Eyes on the 5.00m barrier
After sealing her title, Moon made one symbolic attempt at 5.01m, a height that would have set a new championship record. She failed on her sole try but walked away satisfied, her crown already secured.
“This one means so much,” Moon said afterwards. “To come here, fight through the pressure, and win again, I’m just so proud. Every gold medal is special, but doing it three times in a row is unbelievable.”
Pole vault dominance continues
Moon’s victory reinforces her status as the world’s premier pole vaulter, with three straight world titles adding to her Olympic gold from Tokyo 2021. Her ability to deliver in clutch moments has become a defining feature of her career.
With the Paris 2025 Diamond League season still to come and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics looming on the horizon, the American star shows no sign of slowing down.
Women’s Pole Vault Podium – World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25
🥇 Katie Moon (USA) – 4.90m
🥈 Sandi Morris (USA) – 4.85m
🥉 Tina Šutej (SLO) – 4.80m
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