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How Pole Vaulting Works

By: Karim Nice
olympic pole vault
The pole vault originated in Europe, where men used the pole to cross canals filled with water. See more Olympic pictures.
Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images

Pole vaulting is an incredible sport to watch. The vaulter's technique can be so fluid and graceful -- the result of a highly studied technique designed to optimize energy conversion.

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In this artic­le, we will learn a little bit about the history of pole vaulting, and then we will explore the physics of pole vaulting.

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