Pole Vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski

America's Jennifer Stuczynski says it's only a matter of time before she is clearing the same heights as the Olympic and World Record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia.

The American who has only been pole vaulting for 4 years says she is still learning to vault but is improving all the time.

In just a few short years, Jennifer Stuczyski has become the reigning American women's pole vaulter, and she now threatens to become the best in the world.

Jennifer Stuczynski holds the American women's pole vault record. She won the women's pole vault event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

At the 2008 United States Olympic Trials, Jennifer Stuczynski entered the competition at 4.60m (15-1.25 feet) and only two other vaulters were still jumping.

After two misses at her opening height, she went on to clear the bar by nearly a foot. She was the only vaulter to clear 4.65m (15-3.75 feet), and she immediately had the bar raised to 4.76m (15-7.5 feet) in an attempt to break Stacy Dragila's 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials record of 4.75m (15-7 feet).

Jennifer easily cleared the mark on her first attempt, then raised the bar to 4.92m (16-1.75 feet), 1 cm better than her own American record of 4.91m (16-1.5 feet).

After a close miss on her first attempt and a less-close miss on her second, Jennifer Stuczyski easily made it on her third try.

Jennifer Stuczynski Interview

Can you jump as high as Yelena Isinbayeva?

Yes I think in the last couple of years I have proved alot. It is just a matter of time really things are going really well in practice andIhave had some great heightsIjust have to do it in a meet now.

Does Yelena reputation affect your confidence when competing?

Definitely not. I have alot of confidence and it doesn't really come from meets it comes from my work ethic and my practice so when I go for those heightsIthink in the back of my mind I know I can make it and I try to hard, I need to learn how to relax and do it like I do in practice.

I think that is the most important thing if you try to hard that's when things tighten up and your run is not the same and you pull the pole instead of the proper technique.

Why can you jump high in practice but not produce the same in competition?

In practice I focus on one thing really. I focus on my run and the rest follows but in a meet I tend to focus more on clearing the bar, and that's what happens in practice, your mind kind of wonders a little bit and I just need to stay as focused as I do and compete the same way.

I think its different when you have three attempts in a meet as to 15 in your back yard.

Do you feel great pressure here at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics?

I think when you are an underdog and the Cinderella of it all you don't feel that pressure its more of a goal than something to be worried about.

Are you and Yelena friends?

It's definitely a professional relationship, you know when you are no the track you both travel a long distance to get there and compete and a lots on the line so its not really a social event and we don't see each other in the hotel very much if we pass by we say hello, respect but it's nothing social and best friends.

The higher you jump the higher Yelena Yelena Isinbayeva extends her world record in the pole vault, does this make things difficult?

The way I look at it . . . is that in 3 years she has only raised it about three centermeters, so that's how much she has improved in three years

I have just been climbing and I hope to continue doing that and we will see what happens in another three years where I might be.

How high can you jump?

I think I can jump alot higher.

I always say I think people will be pleasently surprised you know its just a matter of time I keep saying that but it is ifIcan do whatIdo and put everything together and thats the important thing you know when you have one part down and you have to put the next together its just a learning curve for me right now.

I'm still figuring it out, I'm still learning how to vault.

When I talk to lot of people and we talk about the Olympics and they hear I have only been pole vaulting for 4 years, and I'm going to be incontention for a medal they just laugh at me and they say that is impossible, but I just laugh back and say nothing is impossible.

About Jennifer Stuczynski

  • Event: Pole Vault
  • Height: 6-0
  • Weight: 141
  • PR: 4.92m / 16-01.75 AR (2008)
  • Born: Feb. 6, 1982 in Fredonia, N.Y.
  • Coach: Rick Suhr
  • Club: adidas

Jennifer Stuczynski Acheivements

  • 2008 United States Olympic Trials champion
  • 2008 World Indoor Champs silver medalist
  • Two-time USA Outdoor champion ('06, '07)
  • Three-time USA Indoor champion ('05, '07, '08)
  • 2005 NAIA Indoor champion

 

 

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
US Pole Vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski: I Will Clear Same Heights as Yelena Isinbayeva