Elite Vaulters' Heights and Weights

[roger/over]

At some point in that period of desolation between the end of the outdoor season and the beginning of the indoor season, I wondered what data might show about size differences between top vaulters and other good vaulters. The answer, you'll see, is "not much." I just ran across that material while cleaning off my desk, so might as well send it along.

I looked at height and weight of top-20 vaulters and of "mid-20" vaulters (ranked 201 to 220 on Jalava's world lists).

Top-20 women vaulted 4.41m (14' 5 1/2") to 5.01m (16' 5 1/4"). These women had an average height of 171cm (5' 7 1/4") and an average weight of 59.25kg (130#). Tallest was 180cm, shortest 165cm; heaviest was 67 kilos, lightest 51 kilos.

Mid-20 women vaulted 3.90m (12' 9 1/2") to 4.00m (13' 1 1/4"). These women had an average height of 168.4cm (5' 6 1/4") and an average weight of 56.95cm (125#). Tallest was 176cm, shortest 160cm; heaviest was 62 kilos, lightest 51 kilos.

So, the top women vaulters were an inch taller and five pounds heavier than other good vaulters. Doesn't seem like a very meaningful difference in size--unless, maybe, the extra five pounds was all muscle.

Top-20 men vaulted 5.75m (18' 10 1/4") to 6.00m (19' 8 1/4"). These men had an average height of 186.3cm (6' 1 1/4") and an average weight of 78.9kg (174#). Tallest was 193cm, shortest was 178cm; heaviest was 86kg, lightest was 68kg. Dachi Sawano's 68kg (150#) seems light to me, for a six-foot vaulter who cleared 19', but another source put his weight at only 60 kilos (132#).

Mid-20 men vaulted 5.20m (17' 1/2") to 5.25m (17' 2 1/2"). They had an average height of 182cm (5' 11 1/2") and an average weight of 74.25kg (163#). Tallest was again 193cm, shortest was 168cm; heaviest was 89kg, lightest 62kg. I'd have to admit replacing Russian Serhiy Horovy with the next 5.20 vaulter, because I just couldn't believe the 53kg (116#) weight given for him and I couldn't find a secondary source.

Maybe the 1 3/4" difference in height of the top vaulters might be significant. A few years ago, Floyd Highfill did a study that found height and 100m speed, but not weight, correlated with ultimate vaulting heights. Still, though, when you consider the six-inch range in heights within the group of vaulters who were all in the world top-20, it's clear that isn't, in itself, a limiting factor.

Mildly interesting, but not a very fruitful stat exercise. Now can we get back to some good indoor results?

[rainbowgirl28]

Dachi Sawano's 68kg (150#) seems light to me, for a six-foot vaulter who cleared 19', but another source put his weight at only 60 kilos (132#).

He has a slight build, but I would imagine 68kg is more accurate than 60kg for him.

[Jennapv]

Isinbayeva is definitely taller and more solid than the rest of the elite Europeans (5'8+ and 145lb)..I think Rogowska and Pyrek and Co. are more in the 5'7 115-130 range.

[roger/over]

Jennapv wrote:

"Isinbayeva is definitely taller and more solid than the rest of the elite Europeans (5'8+ and 145lb)..I think Rogowska and Pyrek and Co. are more in the 5'7 115-130 range."

These are the heights and weights Mirko Jalava <tilastopaja.net> gives for the all-time indoor top five:

Isinbayeva--170/59 (5' 7" and 130#). ATFS Annual 2005 has her bigger, at 174/65 (5' 8 1/2" and 143#).

Feofanova--163/50 (5' 4 1/4" and 110#) The tiny one.

Dragila (Remember her? Still third indoors behind the two Russians at 4.81m)--172/63 (5' 7 3/4" and 139#)

Rogowska--170/52 (5' 7" and 114#)

Pyrek--168/52 (5' 6" and 114#)

[rainbowgirl28]

From an interview that Bruce Florman translated:

http://www.polevaultpower.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7091

?? - How fussy are you about food?

?? - In general, pretty fussy. Not in the sense that I prefer some gastronomical delicacies. But my food must be wholesome and natural. I eat nothing fatty or fried. Once, during the transition period from gymnastics to light athletics, it was necessary to torture myself with diets, since I weighed 70 kg. I now hold my fighting weight at 63 - 64 kg without any effort. Apparently my metabolism finally adjusted and it requires nothing "forbidden". Sometimes I allow myself, let us say, a pastry; however, I don’t experience cravings for such things.

[Jennapv]

Sorry for the misinfo...Track and Field news listed her as such in last month's issue.

[BruceFlorman]

Isinbayeva--170/59 (5' 7" and 130#). ATFS Annual 2005 has her bigger, at 174/65 (5' 8 1/2" and 143#).

InfoSport.ru lists her at 174/64 (5' 8 1/2" and 141#), although as I've recently been shown, just because it's a Russian website doesn't mean it's got accurate information about the Russian women. Nevertheless, she probably hasn't grown a whole lot recently.

[Barto]

Not that I have intimate knowledge of Issy's size, but she appears taller and heavier than 5'8" 140. When I see her standing next to other athletes that I do have intimate knowledge of, she seems more like 5'9" 145-150.

I could be wrong about her weight. She may have very light bones, but she is definately taller than 5'7.

My personal experience with the accuracy of the heights and weights generally listed in the media is +/- 3" and 15lbs

Barto