Dmitry Starodubtsev's Pole Snaps At World Championships: Russian Pole Vaulter Takes A Tumble (VIDEO)

At the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Russian pole vaulter Dmitry Starodubtsev was attempting a vault 18.9 feet high when things went a little bit awry.

Starodubtsev's pole completely snapped in half while the Russian was airborne, sending him flying, fortunately, into the padded pit in front of him.

Sarodubtsev was unable to continue competing after the tumble and failed to finish in medal position.

Hat tip to Deadspin!

WATCH VIDEO AT TOP

Comments

[OutAtFirst]

09:52 AM on 08/31/2011

Technology improves performance in a lot of sports, but it only totally transforms a few. Seems to me that pole-vaulting is a sport where technology has outpaced the event itself.

[g2services]

11:35 AM on 08/30/2011

Note to self "no more mail order poles from China".

[r1656]

09:06 AM on 08/30/2011

I vaulted several years and when the pole breaks, it usually explodes; unlike this break which was clean. It indicates to me that his pole was nicked prior to the vault. Maybe, by a shoe spike. I've seen people take short cuts across the track, straddling our poles and nicking them with their track spike. I broke over a dozen poles and you always land on your neck and you always end up in the pit. Never feared getting impailed by the pole; only cuts from fiberglass debris.

[Brian Gilmer]

03:23 PM on 08/30/2011

Ditto. In high school I used to travel to track meets with a pole vaulter who told exactly the same story. I saw one of his poles break. He said he thought a competitor intentionally nicked his pole.

[r1656]

03:30 PM on 08/30/2011

in response I'm sure it could be intentional but most of it occurs by accident. There aren't too many ways to protect against it Ita just a lot of traffic cutting across

[cuoi]

08:56 AM on 08/30/2011

Got bent?

[Tommie Bell]

08:29 AM on 08/30/2011

WOW! THE WAY HE LANDED ON THE BACK OF HIS NECK LIKE THAT. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE FORWARD MOTION HADN'T LANDED HIM ON THE AIR BED. THAT MAN NEEDS TO GO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET!

[Danny22tree]

10:10 AM on 08/30/2011

FLAGGED

S PAM

[Harleydan1988]

06:56 AM on 08/30/2011

Bet the pole was made in China

[Kevin Chung Lin]

01:07 AM on 08/30/2011

thank god he's alright

[Brian Workman]

09:08 PM on 08/29/2011

Where's the pain!?!?

[Brian Gilmer]

03:24 PM on 08/30/2011

The link said he retired from the event holding his arm.

[tequila2040]

08:47 PM on 08/29/2011

I was expecting something else :(

[Harleydan1988]

06:57 AM on 08/30/2011

a different type of pole.............ouch

[Victor Saymong]

08:32 PM on 08/29/2011

Not exactly news nor a FAIL. Poles break in this sport. Golf balls land in the water or the sand. Hockey sticks break. Baseball bats break. Not sure what the big deal here is.

[donloundy]

11:52 PM on 08/29/2011

Broken vaulting poles can be lethal. I myself have seen a vaulter break a pole and, as his body continued forward, nearly impale himself on the jagged end of the the pole still protruding from the box. It doesn't happen often but it is really a fright when it does.

[Victor Saymong]

08:40 AM on 08/30/2011

A splintered baseball bat coming at your neck is also potentially lethal.

[fisher2737]

01:06 AM on 08/30/2011

The "big deal" is that the guy could have gotten seriously hurt if the pole snapped the wrong way. It could have run him through. Golf balls, hockey sticks and baseball bats "do not compare" to this.

[Victor Saymong]

08:42 AM on 08/30/2011

A couple of years ago a child was killed by an errant baseball, another by an errant golf ball. Snapped hockey sticks are extremely dangerous as are skates that cross the necks of players. Broken baseball bats helicopter towards the head and neck more often than anywhere else. They can kill just as easily as a broken pole vault. Sports can be dangerous. Pole vaulting may or may not be more dangerous but the participants know the risks.

[fisher2737]

02:15 PM on 08/30/2011

I meant "snapped" sorry

[V-Bottom]

08:28 PM on 08/29/2011

that's Robin Hood's BS when he was chasing folks......creek jumping w/ Little John actually

[chromesst]

08:28 PM on 08/29/2011

The pole must have been made in China.

[patr728]

01:49 AM on 08/30/2011

and you must have thought your remark would be funny? REALLY?

[Harleydan1988]

06:58 AM on 08/30/2011

yes

[hoochiepap]

08:12 AM on 08/30/2011

The pole was made in China, and so was the pad the saved him.

[NRAMember2008]

08:22 PM on 08/29/2011

glad the pad was there

[clintonleague]

08:14 PM on 08/29/2011

POLE MADE IN CHINA!!!

[hattie54]

08:38 PM on 08/29/2011

Like everything else.