Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's pole vault


The women's pole vault at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place between August 16 and 18 at the Beijing National Stadium.
The qualifying standards were 4.45 m and 4.30 m.
The final was won by Yelena Isinbayeva, who set a new world record height of 5.05 meters for the discipline.
During the finals, one of the poles which Brazilian Fabiana Murer would use disappeared, causing her to spend 10–15 minutes trying to get it back. The lost time and having to use another pole led her to bad results. Murer complained about the organization, and would only return to China 7 years later at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, this time winning a silver medal.

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows:
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.
DateEventNameNationalityHeightNotes
18 AugustFinalYelena Isinbayeva5.05

Results

Qualifying round

Qualifying performance: 4.60 or at least 12 best performers advance to the final.
RankGroupNameNationality4.004.154.304.404.504.60ResultNotes
1AYelena Isinbayeva–––––o4.60Q
2BVanessa Boslak–oooo–4.50q, =SB
2AGao Shuying––ooo–4.50q
2BFabiana Murer–––oo–4.50q
2BJennifer Stuczynski––––o–4.50q
6ASvetlana Feofanova–––xoo–4.50q
6AApril Steiner Bennett––xooo–4.50q
8AMonika Pyrek–––oxo–4.50q
8BAnna Rogowska–––oxo–4.50q
10BYuliya Golubchikova––oxoxo–4.50q
10ACarolin Hingst–oxooxo–4.50q
12BSilke Spiegelburg––xxooxo–4.50q
13ANaroa Agirreoooxoxxx4.40=SB
14AAnastasija Reiberger–oxoxoxxx4.40
15BKate Dennisonxoxoxoxxoxxx4.40=PB
16BAlana Boyd––oxxx4.30
16BRoslinda Samsuoooxxx4.30=SB
18BKelsie Hendry––xoxxx4.30
19AJoanna Piwowarskaxooxoxxx4.30
19AAfrodíti Skafída–xoxoxxx 4.30
19ASandra-Helena Tavaresoxoxoxxx4.30
22BNicole Büchlerxxooxxoxxx 4.30
23AMarion Buissonooxx4.15
23BThórey Edda Elisdóttir–oxxx4.15
25BZhou Yangxooxxx4.15
26BKrisztina Molnárxxooxxx4.15
27ANatalya Kushch–xxo–xxx4.15
27BNikoléta Kiriakopoúlou–xxoxxx4.15
27ALi Ling–xxoxxx4.15
27AYarisley Silva–xxoxxx4.15
31AAlejandra Garcíaxxoxxoxxx4.15
32ALeila Ben Youssefxoxxx4.00
32AVanessa Vandyxoxxx4.00
34BAnna Fitídouxxoxxx4.00
BKateřina Baďurováxxx'
BErica Bartolina––xxx'

WR – World Record / =SB – Equal Season Best / PB – Personal Best / SB – Season Best

Final

The final was held on August 18.
RankNameNationality4.304.454.554.654.704.754.804.854.904.955.005.05ResultNotes
Yelena Isinbayeva––––o––o–xxo–xxo5.05
Jennifer Stuczynski––o–oxoo–xxx4.80
Svetlana Feofanova–ooxo–oxxx4.75SB
4Yulia Golubchikova–ooxooxoxxx4.75PB
5Monika Pyrek–oooxoxxx4.70
6Carolin Hingstoooxxoxxx4.65SB
7Silke Spiegelburgoxooxxoxxx4.65
8April Steiner Bennettoooxxx4.55
9Vanessa Boslakooxoxxx4.55SB
10Fabiana Murer–o–xxx4.45
10Anna Rogowska–oxxx 4.45
12Gao Shuyingoxxoxxx4.45

WR – World Record / =SB – Equal Season Best / PB – Personal Best / SB – Season Best