Katerina Stefanidi finishes 9th in women’s pole vault final at Paris 2024.

Greek pole vaulter Katerina Stefanidi did not manage to win a medal in the women’s pole vault final at Paris 2024 on Wednesday, finishing 9th after failing to clear 4.80 meters.

Stefanidi started by clearing 4.40 meters on her second attempt and then cleared 4.60 and 4.70 meters on her first attempts, showing she could contest for an Olympic medal for the second time after winning gold in Rio eight years ago.

However, the 34-year-old did not succeed in surpassing 4.80 meters in any of her three attempts, thus exiting the final. The final is ongoing.

Stefanidi’s Road to the Final

Stefanidi qualified for the final after clearing 4.55 meters in the qualifying round on Monday. She was one of 12 vaulters to clear that height, and she advanced to the final ranked fifth.

In the final, Stefanidi started by clearing 4.40 meters on her second attempt. She then cleared 4.60 and 4.70 meters on her first attempts, moving into medal contention.

However, Stefanidi failed to clear 4.80 meters in any of her three attempts, and she finished ninth overall. The gold medal was won by American Katie Nageotte, who cleared 4.90 meters.

Stefanidi’s Olympic Legacy

Stefanidi’s ninth-place finish in the women’s pole vault final at Paris 2024 is a disappointing result for the Greek vaulter, but it does not diminish her legacy as one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time.

Stefanidi won the gold medal in the women’s pole vault at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and she has also won two world championships and two European championships. She is the current world record holder in the women’s pole vault, with a height of 5.06 meters.

Stefanidi’s performance at Paris 2024 may not have been what she was hoping for, but she remains one of the most decorated and successful pole vaulters in history.